Posted March 23, 2023 by: Admin #News

Paris is currently facing two major issues: the ongoing protests against President Emmanuel Macron’s proposed pension reform bill and a trash crisis due to sanitation workers striking. Amidst all this chaos, two British influencers, Grace Shadrack and Grace Foley, went viral on TikTok after posting a video showing the trash piled up in the streets, set to the theme song of the Netflix show “Emily in Paris”.

The 20-year-old friends, who spent the last year traveling the world, recently decided to move to Paris, largely inspired by the show they adore. They now live just a few minutes away from the square where the show was filmed. Their video, which has garnered over 11 million views, shows the overflowing trash of the city in a glamorous light, with the Emily In Paris original song, “Mon Soleil” by Ashley Park, playing in the background.

Despite being worried that their video might be seen as offensive or insensitive, Shadrack and Foley were pleasantly surprised by the response they received. They had no idea that the protests were happening until they stumbled upon them while out shopping. They explained that they are on the side of the striking workers, who are protesting against the proposed increase in the retirement age by two years.

The ongoing protests against the proposed pension reform bill have been intense, with French workers leaving no stone unturned in making their voices heard. Videos and photos from the country show effigies of President Macron being burned and people marching and dancing around fires while singing the iconic French song “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien”. Sanitation workers are among the groups striking, leading to the trash crisis in some parts of the city, with garbage remaining uncollected for two weeks.

While Shadrack and Foley’s video might seem like a lighthearted joke, it sheds light on the realities of life in Paris right now. The city is currently facing multiple challenges, and their video is a reminder that behind the glamour and glitz of the city lies a darker reality. The trash crisis is a tangible reminder of the consequences of striking and protesting, and while the Emily In Paris soundtrack might be used by many to post clips of trash and memes, the issues at hand are real and require urgent attention.