Lily Collins seemingly threw subtle shade at newly elected Pope Leo XIV after her filming for season five of Emily in Paris was interrupted. The 36-year-old American actress took to her Instagram Stories on Friday, May 9, to re-share a post from the celebrity gossip account Elite Daily, criticizing the newly elected pope, who is the first American to fill the role of pope. The viral meme featured a photo of the Pope alongside Lily’s character from Emily in Paris, saying, "I'm from Chicago, but I moved here for a job." The other slides displayed a cheeky note that read, "The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Pope."
Lily wrote a cheeky message over the post, stating, "I can’t @emilyinparis," while adding a laughing emoji. This light-hearted jab came after her shoot for the fifth installment of her popular Netflix show faced delays due to the Pope's announcement as the New Pope.
According to an insider who spoke to Us Weekly, the filming of Emily in Paris was interrupted because news helicopters were covering the new Pope's first appearance as he held his first mass in the Sistine Chapel last week. "All the news helicopters covering the new Pope are causing mayhem and making so much noise," the tipster added.
On May 7, 2025, the official account for Emily in Paris announced that they were back in production with a snapshot of Collins sitting on a moped. The series, which first debuted in 2020, is set to release its fifth season later this year.
The filming of the fifth season of Emily in Paris in Rome was notably disrupted due to the election of Robert F. Prevost as the new Pope. Tens of thousands of people flocked to St. Peter's Square to witness the new Pope's first appearance, leading to chaos and noise that impacted the production schedule.
As reported by the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, the team had to stop shooting because it became too loud and chaotic after the white smoke signaled the election of the new Pope. Lily Collins had to reshoot several scenes, and her co-stars, Philippine Lerow-Beaulieu and Ashley Park, also faced similar challenges. Park even complained in a video on social media, saying, "It's my first day of shooting in Rome and they just elected the Pope. Does anyone care?"
This comment drew criticism from fans, who felt it showed a lack of respect for the significance of the Papal election. Some users demanded an apology from Park, highlighting the importance of the event to over a billion Catholics worldwide. One user commented, "So disappointing, we want an apology," while another remarked, "More people care about the Pope than your films. Think before you post. That would be a good start."
Despite the backlash, Ashley Park has not publicly addressed the criticism. Some sources indicate she may have deleted comments on her posts related to the incident. Us Weekly previously reported that the helicopters covering the new Pope caused significant disruptions just three days after filming began in Rome, leading to repeated interruptions during production.
The conclave for the election of the new Pope began on May 7, 2025, and on the evening of May 8, Robert Prevost was officially introduced as Pope Leo XIV. The moment was marked by the traditional signal of white smoke rising from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel shortly after 6:00 p.m. The election reportedly concluded in the fourth ballot.
As filming for Emily in Paris continues, the production team is navigating the unique challenges posed by filming in a city bustling with crowds celebrating the new Pope. The series will eventually return to Paris later in the summer, but for now, the crew is adapting to the unexpected interruptions that have become part of their filming experience.
In a world where the intersection of pop culture and significant religious events can lead to unexpected moments, Lily Collins and her co-stars find themselves at the center of a unique narrative, blending the light-hearted antics of a beloved Netflix series with the gravity of a historic Papal election. The fifth season of Emily in Paris promises to be a memorable one, not just for its storyline but for the real-life events that have shaped its production.
