Considered to Portray Negative Stereotypes, 'EMILY IN PARIS' is Protested by Ukrainian Minister

Kapanlagi.com - EMILY IN PARIS is a Hollywood production series that airs on Netflix. It depicts the story of an American woman named Emily who moves to Paris, France to work and meet new people.

Although the plot seems interesting and far from controversial, the show often sparks controversy because it is considered to portray negative stereotypes about certain countries. The first season was criticized for promoting a negative image and stereotypes of Paris and its residents.

The French are portrayed as rude individuals who often deceive their partners. The second season of EMILY IN PARIS is also seen as portraying a negative image of the British through the character of Alfie. The character is depicted as spending his time drinking at bars and watching football matches.

1. Ukrainian Minister Protests

imdb/emilyinparis

Previously only receiving criticism from film critics and fans, this time the Netflix series, EMILY IN PARIS, has sparked protests from Ukrainian Minister of Culture, Oleksandr Tkachenko. The drama starring Lily Collins is considered to portray negative stereotypes of Ukraine through one of its characters.

This character is Petra, Emily's classmate from Kyiv, Ukraine. In one episode of the series, Petra is portrayed as frequently stealing during her travels in Paris. The character played by actress Daria Panchenko is depicted as taking clothes from a store she visits without paying. She is also portrayed as having poor fashion taste and problematic behavior, risking deportation.

This portrayal is considered as an insult and offensive to the citizens located in Eastern Europe. As quoted from The Guardian, Tkachenko wrote: "We have a caricature image of a Ukrainian woman that is unacceptable. It is also demeaning. Is this how Ukrainians are perceived abroad?" The country's officials have also officially protested to Netflix, the streaming platform that produced the series.

2. Lily Collins' Comment

imdb/emilyinparis

Quoted from The Guardian, Collins said that she wants the second season to be more diverse and inclusive, “For me as Emily, but also as a producer, after the first season, hearing people's thoughts, concerns, questions, likes, dislikes, just feelings about it, there are certain things that speak to the time we're living in and what's right, moral, and what should be done. I want diversity and inclusion in front of and behind the camera to be something that we really focus on.”

Despite receiving a lot of criticism, EMILY IN PARIS remains one of Netflix's hit series that is currently in the top 10 most-watched shows on Netflix worldwide. Its first season was the most popular comedy series on Netflix in 2020, which was also nominated for the 2021 Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series.

Writer: Evan Reinaldo

(kpl/mag)