Ariel Winter Fled LA After Traumatic Online Bullying

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Ariel Winter played the role of Alex Dunphy on the popular television series ““. After the show concluded, she seemed to be less in the limelight… it transpired that there was a valid explanation for this.

For years, Winter endured persistent online bullying. Today, in an interview with the specified magazine, she opened up about the emotional toll it took on her. She shared that it became so unbearable, she decided to move away from Los Angeles entirely. “The negativity was omnipresent,” she said to People. “Every headline I read about myself was filled with cruel comments like ‘she looks terrible,’ ‘she’s pregnant,’ or ‘she’s a fat slut.’ I was only 14 years old at the time, and it had a profound impact on my self-worth.

Not only did Winter endure this hardship, but she’s consistently asserted that she experienced abuse at the hands of her mother. Contrary to these claims, Chrisoula Workman denies the allegations. However, when Winter was 14 years old, the Department of Child and Family Protective Services intervened and took her away from her home due to concerns about her welfare. In more recent times, Winter has spoken out about being manipulated, both online and offline, during her difficult upbringing.

Winter confided in the magazine that her childhood is something incredibly personal, raw, and painful for her, far beyond what she’s felt prepared to discuss. However, she didn’t want to quit acting altogether. She explained, ‘I didn’t depart from the entertainment world. I simply left Los Angeles. It carries some less-than-pleasant recollections for me, and at my age, I’ve never lived anywhere else. So, I thought, ‘Why not?’ If you’re no longer tied to a network show that films there, you don’t necessarily have to be there. And if I get another network show, it’s easy for me to return.’

Winter Was Never Like Alex Dunphy

During her teenage years, Winter found herself under intense public scrutiny, which had a significant impact on her. In 2021, she opened up about this experience during an interview on a talk show. She said, “The fans of Modern Family, some of them adored me, but others were quite harsh in their love for Alex Dunphy. Since I wasn’t like Alex Dunphy or looked like her, I didn’t want to dress like her… I was just different in that way. I am not my character.

Alex usually played down her appearance, which puzzlingly made some fans upset at Winter for not doing the same. They would say things like, “How did you transform from Alex Dunphy to a woman who behaves promiscuously?” recalled Winter. “You’re trying to be sexy at 13, you’re a bad influence. What message are you sending people? They criticized her for gaining weight on screen and now find her overweight“, she was subjected to harsh criticism. It took her a while to get past the wave of negativity. Fortunately, she’s in a better place today. She lives with her partner and their dogs, and is currently involved with SOSA, an organization dedicated to shielding children from sexual abuse.

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2025-05-08 01:43