How Jeremy Allen White Really Felt About Emmy Rossum Leaving Shameless
The Bear star formed a close bond with his Shameless co-star and had a conflicted reaction to her departure.
Despite its conclusion in 2021, fans of Showtime 's 11-season series Shameless still have fond memories of the show.
Many would agree that its heart and soul resided in Emmy Rossum's portrayal of the matriarchal figure Fiona Gallagher. With her character holding the troubled Gallagher clan together and serving as the show's main protagonist, Rossum brought a sense of security to the show's otherwise gritty take on Chicago's South Side.
Despite becoming a fan favorite, Rossum's character left the show after Season 9, not making it to the end.
Emmy Rossum's departure from the show elicited an emotional response from both fans and the show's cast and crew, who all recognized the impact her portrayal of Fiona had on the show. Following her announcement, there was much speculation as to why Emmy decided to leave the show, although there was no definitive explanation.
Many fans speculated that her exit was related to salary disputes the actress had with Showtime and Warner Bros. However, as it was never confirmed, Rossum's decision to leave the show was widely attributed to her willingness to move on with her career.
Following the actress' emotional farewell post, other cast members, including Jeremy Allen White, spoke out about how they felt about the news. The actor behind Philip "Lip" Gallagher was probably one of Emmy Rossum's closest friends during their time on the set of Shameless. And he told Variety that the Gallaghers would definitely have a hard time coping without their matriarch.
"She's never going to be replaced; we're just gonna have to figure out how to work it without her," the actor said.
But White clearly respected his friend's decision, as did the writers, who gave Rossum's character an ending that provided her with a powerful resolution to her story, one in which she finally chose herself over her family's constant neediness. This arc conclusion also left room for new, exciting storylines.
"As sad as I am to lose Emmy as an acting partner, it's kind of exciting because it's gonna be a different show; it'll mix things up," White commented.
And he was not wrong. In spite of having to deal with the absence of the female protagonist, seasons 10 and 11 did provide the fans with quite a few moments of joy.