Modern Family may be a show about one big family (and three households) but that doesn't mean every moment is a happy one. The beauty of the sitcom is how realistic the writers keep the storylines. As much as this family loves each other and has each other's backs, there are just as many lies, grudges, and mishaps.
Two of the women, in particular, Gloria and Claire, may be on good terms by the 11th season but there's always been subtle jealousy and an unspoken competition between the two. With Gloria being 14 months younger than Claire and technically being her step-mom, things between these two haven't always been smooth sailing. Let's take a look at 10 of the worst things these women have done to each other.
Claire: Claire Called Immigration On Gloria
While Claire and Jay are away for a closet convention, the two butt heads when Claire thinks Jay is having an affair with a fellow closet nerd. The heated conversation then gets directed to Jay's dislike of Phil and how that plays a big role in their relationship.
All Phil ever wanted was for Jay to like and respect him. To get back at Claire, Jay reveals that he knew Claire called immigration on Gloria when she started dating her father... Claire didn't exactly fess up to it but her actions were very telling.
Gloria: Sent A Bad Email
In the earlier seasons, Gloria and Claire weren't always on the best of terms. Claire was extremely jealous of Gloria's looks and took it out on her in numerous ways. Gloria caught on to this, of course, but she kept trying to get Claire to like her.
But one day, Gloria decides to get all her frustrations out in an email with the intention of never actually sending it to her but she, of course, accidentally sent it. Thankfully, Claire never read the email but one can imagine Gloria did not say the kindest things about her "stepdaughter."
Claire: Kept Gloria Away From The Party Planning Committee
With Gloria being newer to the family in the earlier seasons, Manny was now in the same grade as Luke. This meant that Claire and Gloria would often be working together when it came to their boys' class projects, graduations, and school dances.
In this episode, Claire and her controlling ways took over the party planning committee. Gloria wanted to help but Claire kept shoving her way, telling her they had too many women helping out. Gloria showed up anyway to help decorate and it did not rub Claire the right way. Their interactions turned into a jealous fight by the end of the night.
Gloria: Kissed Phil At The Lakers Game
Phil and Gloria had the chance to go to the Lakers game and had incredible seats. They even got the chance to meet Kobe Bryant! But after Claire saw them on TV, she called Phil to tell him the news and saw him ignore her car. Upset, she turned off the TV.
Shortly after, Phil and Gloria kept being shown on the kiss-cam and after a few attempts of ignoring the camera's prompts, Gloria grabbed Phil's face and kissed him. As if Claire didn't have enough to be jealous of Gloria, now she's kissing her husband.
Claire: Told Luke Gloria Was A Gold Digger
In the episode "Coal Digger," both women are disagreeing and Claire is being needlessly vicious. Things get even more heated when both women show up to the family dinner with pie. Phil makes Claire and Gloria hash it out in the kitchen and Luke reveals that Claire told him Gloria was a "coak digger."
Realizing her own step-daughter was telling her children that she married Jay for money was offensive to her and proved that Claire wasn't being genuine.
Gloria: The Secret Alliance
In the eighth season, we find out Gloria, Phil, and Cam had a secret alliance. Since the three of them all married Pritchetts, they get together once in a while to save each other from their respective spouses. Gloria has teamed up with Phil behind her back to help him hide things from her, just like Phil and Cam have also done.
While there wasn't anything too specific in this episode about Gloria vs. Claire, one can imagine how many times Gloria has gone behind Claire's back just to save Phil from trouble.
Claire: She Lied To Gloria About Her Wareabouts (Because She Didn't Want Her To Come)
In another effort to be closer to Claire (seriously, how many times does Claire push Gloria away?), Gloria tells Claire she'll tag along with her to her yoga class. However, Claire wasn't really going to yoga; she used that as a cover to tell Phil. She was actually going to the shooting range to let off some steam but didn't want to tell Gloria about it because it was her sacred space.
Gloria caught her in the lie and Claire came clean but why wouldn't Claire think Gloria wouldn't understand where she was coming from? Gloria also needs to escape the family too, which is why she goes on spa days and shopping trips.
Gloria: Her Pregnancy Brain Gets Claire In Trouble With Costco
When Gloria is pregnant with Joe, she feels like her unborn baby is evil and is making her lose her temper and her mind. She keeps forgetting things and feels tired all the time, which is why she and Claire went grocery shopping at Costco together. Unfortunately for Claire, Gloria kept forgetting things on her list and was dragging Claire up and down every aisle.
Claire ended up putting on a sweater from Costco because she was so cold browsing the frozen section with her but got caught by security. Gloria's short temper didn't help the matter at all and almost got Claire banned from Costco for life!
Claire: She Made Fun Of Gloria's Changing Figure When She Was Pregnant
When Gloria got pregnant with Joe in the fourth season, she was both happy and nervous about becoming a new mom again. She told the family in her own time but when it was Claire's turn, her reaction was anything but sweet.
She kept making comments about Gloria getting "fat" and would ask Jay how much weight Gloria gained every time she spoke to him. When Gloria was still gorgeous in the middle of her pregnancy, it annoyed Claire even more.
Gloria: Is Jealous Of Claire's Relationship With Her Mom
We all know Gloria doesn't get along well with Claire's mom because it's her husband's ex-wife but what about Claire and Gloria's mom? In the fifth episode, Gloria needed a break from her own mother and had Claire come to the rescue to do some holiday baking together.
Gloria ended up leaving Claire with her mom and unfortunately for her, the two got along great. Gloria was annoyed that Claire and her mom got along so well and was trying to interfere with the two, which led to sister-like arguments.