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Lorelai Gilmore and Rory Gilmore may have been the main characters of Gilmore Girls, but that doesn’t mean they are the show’s most beloved characters. While fans of the series have various thoughts on who the best character was, many argue that Emily Gilmore’s quips and remarks made her among the best secondary characters ever to step foot into Stars Hollow. Emily was smart and sassy, but she could also be incredibly petty. Do you remember her pettiest moments? 

‘Gilmore Girls’ fans insist Emily eating as slowly as possible to annoy Trix Gilmore was her best petty moment 

Very few people managed to rattle Emily. She seemed unflappable most of the time. Still, Trix Gilmore, Richard Gilmore’s mother, had a knack for pushing her buttons. Emily acted out of character around Trix, too. Not only did she cater to Trix’s every whim, but she seldom pushed back. The one time she did, however, she did it in the most deliciously petty way possible. 

Kelly Bishop as Emily Gilmore in 'Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life'
Kelly Bishop as Emily Gilmore in ‘Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life’ | Saeed Adyani/Netflix

In the season 3 episode, “That’ll Do Pig,” Emily, Trix, Lorelai, and Richard sat down for a meal together at the Independence Inn. When Trix announced that she would be returning to Hartford to live, Emily internally freaked out. Instead of sharing her displeasure with her dinner party, she simply ate her green beans as slowly as possible. In doing so she threw Trix’s entire schedule off. Fans note how diabolical the plan was and how flawlessly Emily pulled it off. 

Mailing Lorelai items from her house one piece at a time was one of Emily’s pettiest moments

The target of Emily’s pettiness changed regularly. Still, Lorelai was her most common target. While there are plenty of moments when Emily was incredibly petty toward her daughter, Gilmore Girls fans think her decision to quietly send her random items from her house after a major falling out as particularly petty. 

In season 6, Lorelai stopped speaking to her parents because they went against her when Rory Gilmore wanted to drop out. Instead of accepting that Lorelai didn’t want to talk to them, Emily started sending her discarded items from her home. She included no notes or any information about the items. When it didn’t seem to phase Lorelai, Emily even took to sending things to Luke’s Diner. While it was a petty move, it certainly did get Lorelai’s attention. 

Forcing Rory to watch videotapes of ballroom dancing competitions to get back at Lorelai was both petty and kind of brilliant

Emily Gilmore taking aim at her daughter was a common occurrence. Long before she bombed her with castoffs from her home, she attempted to keep Rory away from Lorelai. It was all in the name of petty jealousy. In season 4, Lorelai and Rory returned from Europe to find out that they got Yale’s start date wrong. To get everything done, Rory and Lorelai split up. Rory went to Friday Night Dinner, and Lorelai went shopping. Lorelai’s absence didn’t sit right with Emily, and she made sure she paid for it. 

Lauren Graham as Lorelai Gilmore and Kelly Bishop as Emily Gilmore sit next to each other on a couch during a scene from 'Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life'
Lauren Graham as Lorelai Gilmore and Kelly Bishop as Emily Gilmore } Netflix

Instead of having dinner and sending Rory on her way, Emily essentially held her hostage. She forced her to watch videotapes of old ballroom dancing competitions until late in the evening. Eventually, Lorelai showed up to rescue Rory, but not before Emily managed to ruin their last night together before Rory went off to Yale. While Gilmore Girls fans think the stunt was mean-spirited, it certainly had the desired effect. 

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