'Modern Family' starlet Ariel Winter is caught in a family abuse controversy after she alleged in an October 3 court filling that her mother subjected her to ongoing abuse. The 14-year-old's mother, Chrisoula Workman, is denying the allegations.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Winter, whose real name is Ariel Workman, has been placed under the temporary guardianship of sister Shanelle Gray. In a petition for guardianship, Winter's attorney said, "Minor Ariel Workman have been a victim of on-going physical abuse (slapping, hitting, pushing) and emotional abuse (vile name calling, personal insults about minor and minor's weight, attempts to sexualize minor, deprivation of food etc.) for an extended period of time by the minor's mother, Chrisoula Workman..."
Last month, a judge ordered the young actress' mother to stay away from Winter and to have zero contact with her pending the November 20 hearing on the guardianship and control of at least $500,000 in assets, the LA Times reported.
However, Workman is vehemently denying the allegations and told People magazine that she has not physically or emotionally abused her daughter. "It's all untrue, it's all untrue," Workman told People. "I have my doctor's letter that my daughter's never been abused. ...I have stylists' letters that she's never been abused."
Workman also issued a statement on Thursday announcing that she had filed a report against her daughter's 18-year-old boyfriend with the LA County Sheriff's Department, Access Hollywood reported. She said, "My fourteen-year-old daughter has been dating an eighteen-and-a-half-year-old man, and when I caught them engaging in behavior that I feel my daughter is too young to mentally and physically to understand and fully grasp I put a stop to it immediately."
Her statement continued, "I love my daughter very much. I would never abuse her in anyway and I have always tried my best to always protect her and do what is right for her."
The 14-year-old's mother added, "Yes, I filed charges against him because legally he is an adult and if he wants to engage in adult behavior with a minor than he should also be ready to suffer adult consequences for his actions."
According to TMZ, however, Workman did not file the charges until two weeks after the supposed September 24 incident and five days after she lost custody of her daughter.
Winter's brother, Jimmy Workman, came to his mother's defense and told Us Weekly, "There is no truth to these allegations." He added, "This is a mother who does everything for her kids. Chris misses Ariel and wants her to come home."
Winter, who began acting when she was seven years old, plays Alex Dunphy on the hit ABC comedy 'Modern Family.'