Shameless has been one of Showtime’s bigger hits. This dark comedy focuses on the Gallaghers, a struggling Chicago family with scores of issues. The big theme is how father Frank is a self-serving alcoholic who cares for no one but himself. It’s elder daughter Fiona (Emmy Rossum) who has to pull the family together and care for them. That seems to be a good thing...until one realizes Fiona isn’t really on the high ground herself.
She does her best, but Fiona is prone to her problems of drinking and the wrong kind of men. Yes, she does help the family a lot, yet it can’t be denied that Fiona has crossed some dangerous lines. She has lied, cheated, used others for her own gain, and even turned on her own family. When she finally left after season 9, it was clear Fiona had done some of the worst things on the show. Here are 15 times on Shameless when Fiona was even worse than Frank and hardly the moral core of the show.
15 Trying To Ruin Her Ex
After calling off her wedding to Sean, Fiona was thrown when he returned in season eight and revealed he'd gotten married to someone else.
Fiona was so jealous of him moving on that she went to his hotel to tell a woman all about Sean’s past of drug abuse and cheating. Luckily, it wasn’t his real wife, but Fiona's willingness to ruin her ex was bad.
14 Tying To Stop The Building Of A Homeless Shelter
When Fiona bought an apartment building, it brought out a selfish side in her. The lowest point was when she heard Ian and Trevor were trying to build a homeless shelter in the neighborhood.
Concerned this would hurt her property values, Fiona did everything possible to stop the sanctuary being created. Going against her own brother’s attempts to help the homeless was low, even by Gallagher standards.
13 Pushing Jimmy To Keep Up A Criminal life
When Fiona met Steve, he seemed like a kind and decent guy trying helping her out. But, Fiona did seem put off by how he was too sweet for her. Then she discovered he was Jimmy, a car thief, and suddenly found him much more attractive.
Jimmy wanted to get free of that life, but Fiona pushed him to stay a bad boy because she preferred that over his own wishes.
12 Taking Advantage Of Tony’s Crush For Her Own Gain
A forgotten character is Tony, the local cop from the first season. It was evident to everyone he had a massive crush on Fiona, and she took full advantage of it. She would push him to break the rules and turn a blind eye to the family’s antics.
She even took his virginity and didn’t seem to care about his feelings. Little wonder when Tony later returns, he doesn’t have fond memories of Fiona.
11 Taking Advantage Of A Forgetful Senior Citizen
At first, it was kind of Fiona to help out the elderly Etta with her laundromat. That didn’t last long. Fiona took advantage of Etta’s faulty memory to get a better deal buying the place using Etta's own credit cards.
Etta was literally eating cat food while Fiona used her money. She later sold the site (and Etta’s apartment) out from under her and sent Etta to an assisted living facility. Even Frank treated Etta better than Fiona did.
10 Beating On Her Mother’s Dead Body
Monica was hardly what one would call a good mother, and her actions contributed to how messed up the family is. That doesn’t excuse how, after her death, Fiona went on a tirade at her mother’s funeral.
She berated her mom’s actions, hid a load of drugs in the coffin, and even punched the corpse. Those are some serious mommy issues.
9 Blackmailing Her Way Into A Job
Fiona’s standards can be pretty questionable. When she tries for a job at a grocery store, she discovers the owner regularly takes advantage of his female employees.
Rather than report this, Fiona got V to get proof of the man’s actions. She then used it to blackmail her way into a better paying job. Fiona was okay with the guy using women, as long as she got a paying gig.
8 Stealing From A Stranger And Wanting To Get Paid For It
When you’re as poor as the Gallaghers, you’re pushed to desperate means. But that doesn’t excuse how, while on a subway, Fiona steals the purse of a woman. She then returns it, claiming that it was empty when she found it and expected a reward.
Yes, Fiona not only robbed a stranger of a few hundred dollars, but expected to get paid more for it. That’s shameless.
7 Refusing To Give Up Her Liver To Her Father
It’s hard to find sympathy for Frank, but family is still family. When he discovers his liver is failing from his years of drinking, Frank turns to Fiona to give up her own, pointing out how she can recover fast from it.
Without hesitation, Fiona refuses and openly says she’ll be happy if her father dies. That’s downright cold.
6 Dumping Frank Into A River
Granted, it was partly deserved, but it’s still terrible. Frank ruins Fiona’s wedding by revealing her would-be groom is still using drugs. In response, Fiona and the family dump Frank into the Chicago River.
What Frank did was horrible, but that doesn’t excuse attempted patricide with Fiona as the ringleader.
