Ariel Winter Reveals Why She Moved Out of Los Angeles, Addresses Traumatic Childhood
Context:
Ariel Winter, known for her role on 'Modern Family,' has moved out of Los Angeles, citing the intense media scrutiny and public scrutiny she faced as a child actress as a significant factor in her decision. She opened up about the damaging effect this had on her self-esteem, with headlines criticizing her appearance from a young age, and the feeling of being universally hated. Winter also addressed her tumultuous relationship with her mother, Chrisoula Workman, whom she accused of abuse, leading to her being placed in her sister Shanelle Gray's custody at 14. Though she has left Los Angeles, Winter is still active in the industry, working on producing projects, a podcast, and a cooking show, while also advocating against online sexual predators. Winter emphasizes her desire to use her experiences to help others and bring attention to those in need, rather than being defined solely as a survivor of her past traumas.
Dive Deeper:
Ariel Winter, at 27, made the decision to move out of Los Angeles, motivated by the overwhelming and damaging media scrutiny she faced throughout her childhood, which severely impacted her self-esteem and perception of self-worth.
As a child actress, Winter was subjected to harsh and inappropriate criticism from the media regarding her appearance, which she described as pervasive and damaging, making it difficult for her to love herself.
Her relationship with her mother, Chrisoula Workman, was troubled, culminating in allegations of abuse and her removal from her mother's custody by the Department of Child and Family Protective Services at 14, after which she lived with her older sister, Shanelle Gray.
Winter's move away from Los Angeles was not a departure from the entertainment industry; she remains engaged in producing new projects, exploring the culinary arts, and starting a podcast, while also caring for six dogs with her boyfriend, Luke Benward.
Inspired by 'Undercover Underage,' Winter is actively involved in combatting online sexual predators, drawing from her own experiences of grooming and child sex abuse, yet she focuses on using her platform to help others rather than focusing on her survival story.
Her journey of healing and self-discovery is now channeled through advocacy and supporting others who have faced similar challenges, emphasizing her commitment to using her platform for positive change rather than personal recognition.
Winter's narrative is one of transformation and resilience, choosing to leave behind the negative associations with Los Angeles and prioritize her mental well-being and personal growth through new ventures and advocacy.
Ariel Winter has left Hollywood.The 27-year-old actress, who starred as Alex Dunphy on Modern Family, spoke out about her decision to leave Los Angeles in a cover story for People.
During the conversation, she opened up about the scrutiny she faced from the media and the public.
“It was just everywhere,” she recalled.
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“It was every headline I read about myself, like, grown people writing articles about me saying how I looked terrible or pregnant or like a fat slut. I mean, I was 14. It totally damaged my self-esteem.”
“I understood what it was like to be hated,” she said.
“No matter what I was going through, I was a target. It made it very difficult to look at myself in the mirror and go, ‘I love this version of me.’”
Ariel also discussed her relationship with her mother, Chrisoula Workman, whom she’s accused of abuse. (Her mother has publicly denied any allegations of abuse.)
The Department of Child and Family Protective Services removed Ariel from her home at 14, and she was placed in the care of her older sister, Shanelle Gray.
“I went on to have a great rest of my teenage years thanks to being under her custody,” she said of her sister-turned-legal guardian. She has since not spoken to her mother, and chooses not to elaborate on the alleged abuse.
“Honestly, it’s just my entire childhood,” she said.
“It’s a really deep, painful, sore, sore part for me that’s so much deeper and bigger than I’ve ever felt ready to talk about.”
After Modern Family wrapped its final season in April 2020, she and her boyfriend, actor Luke Benward, decided to move out of Los Angeles.
She has since gotten into cooking and become a mom to their six dogs.
“I didn’t leave the industry,” she clarified, noting that she is enjoying getting into producing several projects of her own, as well as starting a podcast and developing a cooking show.
“I just left the city of L.A. It holds some not-great memories for me, and I’m young and never lived anywhere else, and thought, ‘Why not?’ If you’re no longer on a network show that shoots there, you don’t really have to be there, and if I get a network show, I can easily go back,” she said.
She’s also taken on fighting against online sexual predators, inspired by Max’s Undercover Underage, which followed an organization called SOSA (Safe From Online Sex Abuse).
“I was just like, ‘God, I’d love to be a part of that,’” she said, saying she is “a victim of grooming online and IRL [in real life] and CSA [child sex abuse]” in an Instagram comment earlier this year. She declined to elaborate further about the details.
“It just impacted me so deeply because I’d been that kid who’d been preyed upon online so many times,” she said.
“Technically, yes, I’m a survivor. I’ve gone through some s–t,” she said.
“But a lot of people have gone through some s–t. Calling me a survivor takes away from what I’m here for, which is to help others and shine a spotlight on those that need it. More than anything, I want my story to be that she uses her platform for good. My journey to figuring things out and healing is now through helping other people. That’s all I care about.”
See what Ariel Winter is up to on her Instagram…