Celebrity News

Mother, brother of ‘Modern’ teen deny abuse allegations

The mother of “Modern Family” actress Ariel Winter has come forward, denying yesterday’s explosive allegations that she abused her daughter.

The teen made headlines after TMZ reported that Winter, 14, had been placed under her older sister Shanelle Gray’s guardianship after physical and emotional abuse allegations emerged against her mother, Chrisoula “Crystal” Workman.

“It’s all untrue, it’s all untrue,” Chris Workman tells People. “I have my doctor’s letter that my daughter’s never been abused. … I have stylists’ letters that she’s never been abused.”

Winter’s brother, Jimmy Workman, also says the allegations against their mother are false. “There is no truth to these allegations,” he said to Us Weekly. “The allegations made 20 years ago are not true and the ones today are not true.”

According to TMZ, a judge determined that Winter was being physically and emotionally abused by her mother and ordered Workman not to contact her daughter until further notice.

The LA Department of Children and Family Services removed Shanelle from her mother’s care nearly two decades ago when similar allegations surfaced. Shanelle was placed in foster care for more than two years.

Winter plays Alex Dunphy, the middle child of Ty Burrell and Julie Bowen’s characters on the Emmy-winning series, now in its fourth season. She has been acting since she was 4 years old and has appeared in the film “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” with Robert Downey Jr. and done guest spots on “Criminal Minds” and “Bones.”