Ariel Winter, best known for her role as the lovable and sassy Alex Dunphy on Modern Family, is speaking out about the traumatic experiences she faced growing up in the spotlight.
The 27-year-old actress, now featured in the true crime docuseries SOSA Undercover, recalls her early Hollywood years beginning at just four years old. In an interview with The Daily Mail shared on Thursday, July 10, Winter shared the painful reality of encountering inappropriate messages specifically from older men when she was barely a teenager. “By the time I was [old enough to use a] laptop and cellphone, I was getting inappropriate messages from older men,” Winter revealed.
The actress continued, saying that the encounters, which were both “in person and online” “caused trauma” and that she “had to go to therapy for it.” She described the entertainment industry as “a dark place,” one that exposed her to predators while she was still a child.
Her teenage years in the public eye were equally difficult, particularly with the constant scrutiny of her changing body. “Having my figure written about was a major part of my teenage years,” Winter explained. “I was 14, and it was everywhere. Every headline about me.”
Winter also shared how medication taken for her mental health led to weight gain, which resulted in bullying. “I was on an antidepressant in high school that caused me to gain 30 pounds,” she said. However, when she later lost the weight, she faced criticism for being “way too skinny.” This constant judgment took a toll on her, leading to a “journey of self-healing.”
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Now living outside of Los Angeles with her boyfriend, Luke Benward, Winter expressed her gratitude for the supportive people around her. She also revealed her plans for the future, saying, “I want to have a family, so I needed to heal those old wounds,” right now, however, she’s happy at home with Benward and their six dogs. Winter explained to People in May that she “didn’t leave the industry,” and has plans to produce a podcast and develop a cooking show.
Winter appeared on Modern Family from 2009 up until its finale in 2020.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available 24 hours a day through RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
