Emily in Paris is one of many anomalies in the world of Netflix; a series that has constantly been panned by audiences, but continues to be renewed by the streamer thanks to its strong viewership. It seems though that it is not just Netflix subscribers who have a dim view of the Lily Collins show, as the residents of Paris are not full of amour for it either. That has led to some very blunt graffiti appearing on shutters and walls where the series is filmed.

The picturesque streets of Paris, often celebrated for their quintessential charm and romantic allure, have seen some less welcoming messages appearing in the Place de l’Estrapade in the Latin Quarter that houses Emily’s fictional residence in the city. Although the show has not had the best critical appraisal, partly due to complaints over its stereotypical view of the French, the global audience of the Netflix series has instigated an influx of tourists to the area used for filming, and this has led to the French labeling fans the ‘l’invasion des imbéciles’, which translates as ‘the invasion of morons.’ However, that is just the tip of the iceberg.

As per the U.K.’s The Daily Mail, a clear demonstration of frustration from locals has seen the shutters of many businesses in the square being covered with some aggressive words of warning for the show’s title character and its fans, who are often in the area looking for a photo opportunity. This has included phrases such as “South Paris is not yours,” “Emily Not Welcome,” and, the straight-to-the-point “Emily f-ck off.” As well as appearing on many shutters of cafés and stores used in the show, the same thing has appeared on the square’s fountain as a constantly visible sign of the protest.

Emily in Paris’ Graffiti Protests Highlight Pop Culture Issues

The backlash against Emily in Paris, and its implication on how filming in various locations can impact those living in real-world spaces, is certainly not something new. For decades, Hollywood studios have scouted the world for the right location to film movies and TV shows. Although some of these have remained relatively obscure, others have become a beacon for those wanting to visit the iconic places they have seen on TV and cinemas.

From the “Rocky Steps” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, to Harry Potter’s Platform 9 ¾ at London’s King’s Cross Station, there are advantages and disadvantages to a real location being used in something that becomes an iconic piece of pop culture. Many film productions have made use of monuments, castles, and other sites that have then used their fame to provide funding to keep them maintained from the tourism generated by their popularity.

Residential areas are another matter. The locals of Emily in Paris’ filming location are not the first to react negatively to the filming taking place on their doorstep. Filming on the Fast and Furious franchise caused complaints on both sides of the pond, with residents in London, U.K. and Los Angeles in the U.S. complaining about the noise and disruption caused by filming on Fast X back in 2022. Popular drama Yellowstone delivered a huge financial boost to the Montana tourist industry, with a study in 2021 reporting that over 2 million additional visitors were drawn to the state that year thanks to the show, leading to a revenue of over $700 million. However, the depiction of ranchers in the series has not been received well by some Montana residents, who have claimed that the show “has given our ranchers a bad name.”

It is clear that fan interest in filming locations can have a very positive impact when it comes to financial implications for businesses and underfunded areas, but can equally be seen in a negative light when it disrupts the day-to-day lives of residents or sees tourists blurring the lines between fictional characters and real people. When it comes to the residents of Paris, it seems that Emily’s popularity has very much landed in the latter category.

Seasons 1-3 of Emily in Paris can be streamed on Netflix. Season 4 is filming now.