Public Relations, Paris, and Perception: A Reality Check on “Emily in Paris”
- BUPRSSA
- Nov 4
- 2 min read
By: Cloe Di Giulio
Ever since its release in 2020, Emily in Paris has become Netflix’s token escapist show. Who wouldn’t want to drop everything and move to Paris? It is, of course, not as easy a journey as the show makes it out to be. From Emily’s daily designer wardrobe to the almost offensive French stereotypes, the ridiculous nature of the series is inherent—but that’s precisely why it has become so popular. Kicking back to watch a show about a fantasy life in Paris is much preferable to watching a tragic movie after a bad day at work. Although the lifestyle that is depicted in the show is clearly unrealistic, not everyone may be able to distinguish between the accurate and inaccurate portrayals of the Public Relations industry in the series.
Starting with the accuracy in the show, Emily was excellent at forming meaningful relationships and jumping at opportunities to network. When invited to a Duree Cosmetics event as an influencer, Emily made the effort to connect with the brand’s CMO and went on to become a brand ambassador. Emily’s appearance as a micro-influencer demonstrates that brands look for genuine, relatable faces to promote their products, not just top-tier celebrities. Lastly, Emily was amazing at pitching to her clients, leading with a confident persona that allowed her to speak her mind without fear of rejection-even though her French counterparts often criticized her creative ideas.
On the other hand, Emily in Paris also includes multiple inaccurate depictions of the PR industry. In the real world, Emily’s lack of knowledge of the French language and culture would have not only hindered her daily life, but also her role as a Marketing Executive. While Emily’s task was to bring an American perspective to the Paris office, her failure to truly understand the French audience is problematic to the effectiveness of her work. Additionally, scenes from the series suggested that Emily had a tendency to do little to no preparation before posting on social media. For example, when posting a picture to the Pierre Cadault Instagram page with the caption #AboutLastNight, Emily failed to ask for approval or complete any audience research before sharing the post. In a real PR situation, it is unlikely that such decisions would be made without any preparation beforehand, as companies as large as Pierre Cadault require tedious planning and approval processes to ensure that social media posts reflect and align with the brand’s desired image.
Overall, there are both accuracies and inaccuracies in how the show Emily in Paris portrays the PR industry. Although it is important to recognize that the series is often unrealistic, it cannot be denied that it is a hilariously entertaining show that serves as a perfect escape from the not-so-glamorous real world!