Modern Family’s Ariel Winter Reveals Childhood Trauma, Joins SOSA Undercover Against Online Predators

Ariel Winter, known for her role as Alex Dunphy on Modern Family, has opened up about the trauma she endured as a child star in Hollywood, including being targeted by male predators from a young age and receiving inappropriate messages online. These experiences deeply affected her mental health, leading her to seek therapy and confront body-shaming criticisms throughout her adolescence, particularly when she gained weight due to antidepressants. To channel her pain into purpose, Winter now works with SOSA (Safe From Online Sex Abuse), a nonprofit organization that conducts undercover operations to catch online sexual predators, sometimes participating in sting missions herself. Encouraged by her boyfriend Luke Benward, she has found this work both rewarding and triggering, as it brings up past traumas. After moving out of Los Angeles in 2020 to focus on healing and personal growth, Winter is now looking forward to starting a family. Her story highlights the dark side of the entertainment industry and underscores her commitment to protecting others from similar abuse.