Netflix Under Fire: ‘Emily in Paris’ Accused of Mistaking Korean Skincare for Intimate Lubricant

The release of Season 4 of Netflix’s highly acclaimed original series Emily in Paris on the 15th has caused controversy among viewers due to an episode that portrays Korea in a negative light.

In the fifth episode of the fourth season, a controversial scene occurs. Lily Collins portrays Emily, who is given the responsibility of promoting a Korean friend’s dewy makeup line. The product was first introduced to her by her Chinese friend, Mindy Chen, played by Ashley Park.

Despite the makeup product quickly gaining popularity, Emily and her colleagues are ecstatic when the client expresses interest in selling it in department stores. However, their joy is short-lived when Emily’s colleague Julien (played by Samuel Arnold) uncovers that the product was originally marketed as a sexual lubricant on a U.S. audition program. The seller had claimed that the product enhanced sexual stimulation and satisfaction for partners. The revelation shocks everyone, and the scene zooms in on women applying the lubricant to their faces while laughing.

Emily swiftly handles the situation when her boss Sylvie Grateau (portrayed by Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu) attempts to expose the truth by suggesting to the client, “Considering the high sales, it might be wise to increase the price.”

This outrageous incident appears to be aimed at diminishing the reputation of K-cosmetics, which have gained worldwide recognition due to the flawless skin of K-pop idols. Many viewers expressed their anger, commenting, “Was it necessary to portray the episode in such a derogatory manner?”, “It has devolved into a tasteless soap opera”and “The premise is disturbing.”

“Emily in Paris”is a chick-lit drama that depicts the everyday experiences of Emily, an American marketer employed at a PR firm in Paris, France. The show is helmed by Darren Star, the mastermind behind the hugely popular HBO series “Sex and the City”which aired in the late ’90s to early 2000s. The first season of “Emily in Paris”premiered in 2020 and has since been renewed for four more seasons.