Spoiler Alert: This story contains spoilers from Season 5 of “Emily in Paris.”
“Emily in Paris” quietly honored assistant director Diego Borella following his death during production on Season 5. The Netflix series paid tribute in the season finale with a simple end-credit title card that read, “In memory of Diego Borella,” which appeared when the episode premiered earlier this month.
GettyBorella died at age 47 while the show was filming on location in Venice, Italy, as US Weekly confirmed in August.
A Quiet Tribute in the Season 5 Finale
The tribute appeared without fanfare, allowing the moment to speak for itself. The title card closed out the finale, marking Borella’s contribution to the series and acknowledging the loss felt by the production.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm the sudden passing of a member of the Emily in Paris production family,” a spokesperson for Paramount Television Studios said in a statement to Us Weekly at the time.
“Our hearts go out to the individual’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”
What Happened During Filming in Venice
Borella collapsed while the crew was preparing a scene at Venice’s Hotel Danieli, according to multiple local reports. Following his death, production on the series was briefly halted.
Lily Collins, who stars as Emily, and her costars resumed filming two days later as the production continued.
Where Season 5 Left Emily’s Story
“Emily in Paris” centers on an ambitious American marketing executive who relocates from the United States to Paris to pursue a career at a high-end marketing agency.
By the end of Season 4, Emily is offered a major opportunity to lead a new company branch in Rome, a move that coincides with the start of her romance with Marcello, portrayed by Eugenio Franceschini.
The Season 5 finale takes the duo to Venice during fashion week, where Marcello unveils his debut fashion line. While the show marks a professional triumph for him, the trip becomes an emotional turning point for their relationship.
Marcello reveals plans to return to Italy to take over his family’s fashion house, leading to their breakup as Emily grapples with the possibility of leaving Paris and the life she has built behind.
What’s Next for Emily and Gabriel
The finale also teased a possible reconnection between Emily and her former boyfriend Gabriel, portrayed by Lucas Bravo, after he sent her a postcard inviting her to “meet [him] in Greece.”
“Gabriel is important. He’s part of the DNA of the show,” series director and executive producer Andrew Fleming told Us Weekly. “When he and Emily are in a scene together, something undefinable happens. They have this chemistry. They do. There’s just something about the two of them that’s very watchable.”
Fleming suggested that Emily and Gabriel’s story remains unfinished if the series returns for another season.
“Looking ahead, they’re part of each other’s journey. Who is to say who Emily is going to end up with, but Emily and Gabriel are going to interact with each other,” he said.
“Stuff is going to happen [but] I really can’t say anything about what’s going to happen next season.”
Gabriel’s arc also took a significant turn this season, with the character leaving his Michelin-winning restaurant to work as a private chef aboard a British businessman’s yacht. Fleming noted that the move was always intended to be part of a longer storyline.
“We want to go on a journey,” Fleming explained. “At no point was Luke ever leaving the show permanently.”
“Emily in Paris” Season 5 is now streaming on Netflix, closing with both major relationship shifts and a quiet moment of remembrance for a colleague whose loss was felt deeply by the cast and crew.
