‘Modern Family' star goes undercover as 12-year-old for ‘scary' sting operation
"Modern Family" star Ariel Winter opened up about her harrowing experience posing as a preteen girl to help catch a child sexual predator.
The 27-year-old actress, who played Alex Dunphy on the hit sitcom "Modern Family" from 2009 to 2020, joined forces with the nonprofit Safe from Online Sex Abuse (SOSA) for an undercover sting operation that was featured in the true crime docuseries "SOSA Undercover."
In the premiere episode, Winter pretended to be a 12-year-old girl to entice a 31-year-old predator in Oklahoma City. During an interview with the Daily Mail published Friday, Winter explained how she felt about serving as a decoy in the operation.
"It's definitely cathartic to be teaming with SOSA, knowing that I can make a difference," Winter said.
'Modern Family' Star Ariel Winter Fled La To Escape Trauma From Childhood Stardom
"It can be scary at times pretending to be 12 and talking to older men, but it's validating to put away predators that have been harming children," she continued.
Read On The Fox News App
"Growing up in the entertainment industry, I've been the girl we are trying to save," Winter added. "It's vital to me to help protect young women from the experiences I endured in my own life."
Winter donned a blonde wig with bangs to play the part of the fake 12-year-old. In one scene, Winter was seen sitting on a bed in a room that was staged to look like a child's bedroom. The actress adopted a child-like voice as she FaceTimed the predator, whom she referred to as "Daddy."
While speaking with the DailyMail.com, Winter described how she worked with SOSA to identify online child sexual predators.
"Finding someone is hard, because they don't use their real name or handle, and we have to do research into who these people are," she said. "You see a lot of dark things when you start investigating who is after pre-teen girls.
"I was surprised by the volume how many men were out there looking to talk to young girls who were 12 or 13. It's hundreds of thousands of men," Winter continued.
"These men also look like normal, nice guys — they don't look like predators," she added. "They look like the guy next-door, and they're usually married and have children. The men seem nice because they have pets, and they show you pictures of their dogs. They talk about their everyday life, and they seem like sweet men. But the truth is they want to spend time with a 12-year-old girl, they ask inappropriate questions and want to know if parents are around."
"One guy was almost 40-years-old, and he wanted to take an 11-year-old girl shopping for a new bra. That's not normal. It's not good."
The actress told the outlet that seeing adult men who were seeking out girls ranging from 12 to 14-years-old was "wild."
"This whole experience has been heartbreaking, because I think of how young these girls are and they're being approached by much older men," she said.
"I am familiar with male predators, because I worked in Hollywood at a young age, I started at age four," added Winter, who made her TV debut in a 2002 Cool Whip commercial.
"I don't wanna say too much about it, but by the time I was on a laptop and cell phone, I was getting inappropriate messages from older men, and it causes trauma," she continued.
"The experiences I had in person and online as a child have affected me so deeply that I've had to go to therapy for it," Winter explained. "The movie and TV industry is a dark place."
Winter noted how easy it can be for vulnerable children to become prey for adult perpetrators.
"Kids look for online relationships because they're lonely or bored, and then they find a male and think that they can connect to them, not realizing they are so much older and are actually predators with bad intentions," she said.
The Virginia native told the outlet that she planned to continue volunteering for SOSA.
"I like working with SOSA because it's women helping women, and I'll do it as long as I can," Winter said.
In February, SOSA shared a clip from the premiere episode on Instagram ahead of its release on March 20. At the time, Winter commented on the video as she candidly reflected on her real-life experiences with child sexual abuse.
"I was a victim of grooming online and IRL, and CSA," Winter wrote. "The effects are lifelong and inescapable. This has ALWAYS been a problem, but in the digital age it is only escalating to more extreme levels and in more manipulative ways."
She continued, "The access predators have to ALL children in this day and age is immeasurable. This issue needs to be brought further into the light and fought with everything we have. These are very real situations, with real men committing very real crimes, being arrested by real law enforcement that we are asked to assist who are with us every step of the way."
"SOSA helps get actual convictions and take these perpetrators off the streets," Winter added. "It is not easy to do this work, but it is so rewarding to know that we've helped protect even one child."Original article source: 'Modern Family' star goes undercover as 12-year-old for 'scary' sting operation
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Monday's Child: Rowan, 13, is a funny, playful and high-spirited young boy who keeps everyone around him smiling
Rowan, 13, is a funny, playful and high-spirited young boy who keeps everyone around him smiling. Always on the move, Rowan enjoys staying active with sports like football, karate and even waterskiing — a passion he's proud of from his time in a water skiing club. He's especially proud to have earned his boating license at a young age. In addition to his athletic interests, Rowan has a creative side. He loves writing fictional stories and sharing them with others, using his vivid imagination to bring characters to life. He's always dreaming big — right now, he's determined to master a backflip to add to his growing karate skills. Rowan is also a big country music fan and enjoys jamming out to his favorite tunes. His mix of energy, humor and creativity makes him a truly unique and unforgettable kid. If you're at least 18 years old, have a stable source of income and room in your heart, you may be a perfect match to adopt a waiting child. Adoptive parents can be single, married or partnered; experienced or not; renters or homeowners; LGBTQ+ singles and couples. As an adoptive parent, you won't have to pay any fees; adoption from foster care is completely free in Massachusetts. The process to adopt a child from foster care includes training, interviews and home visits to determine if adoption is right for you. These steps will help match you with a child or sibling group that your family will fit well with. To learn more about adoption from foster care, call the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) at (617) 964-6273 or go to This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Monday's Child: Rowan, 13, is funny, playful and high-spirited
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ontario County GOP voters to decide DA primary June 24: What to know
Voting in the Republican primary for Ontario County District Attorney will take place on Tuesday, June 24, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at all 44 county polling sites. According to the Ontario County Board of Elections, more than 29,000 registered Republicans are eligible to vote in the race between incumbent District Attorney James Ritts and challenger Jason MacBride, a career prosecutor. This high-profile contest has drawn attention since MacBride launched his campaign in February, citing concerns over an internal investigation into a controversial courthouse election night party that involved costumes, alcohol, decorations, and karaoke. MacBride, formerly Ritts' First Assistant DA, said the incident raised ethical concerns and motivated his candidacy. In a statement, he wrote: 'It is not silly for the public to expect their District Attorney to be truthful during an official investigation.' Ritts has defended the event, stating it was a long-standing tradition started by his predecessor and only became controversial during his re-election bid. This is the only countywide primary in Ontario County. Republican primaries are also being held in the towns of Farmington, Gorham, Naples, Phelps, and Richmond. James Ritts (Incumbent) First elected in 2017 as a Republican and Conservative. Previously served as First Assistant DA under R. Michael Tantillo. Ran unopposed in 2021, now seeking a third term. In a statement, Ritts said: 'Our 96% conviction rate and lowest dismissal rate in Western NY (4% compared to the statewide 14%) is a point of pride. I've recruited an amazing team to fight for victims, public safety, and justice for all.'' He pledged to continue expanding support for victims and maintaining Ontario County's reputation as a safe place to live and raise a family. Jason MacBride (Challenger) Currently serves as an Assistant County Attorney, prosecuting juvenile cases and advising child protection investigations. Has 21 years of prosecutorial experience, including felony cases such as homicides and child abuse. Formerly worked in both the Monroe and Ontario County DA's Offices. In his statement, MacBride emphasized restoring "ethical and effective leadership" and wrote: 'I lead by example through hard work, ingenuity, and partnering with others to best serve victims.' To verify your registration, party enrollment, or polling location, visit: Ontario County Voter Info Center NY State Voter Lookup Or call the Ontario County Board of Elections at 585-396-4005. Mike Murphy covers Canandaigua and other communities in Ontario County and writes the Eat, Drink and Be Murphy food and drink column. Follow him on X at @MPN_MikeMurphy. Madison Scott is a journalist with the Democrat and Chronicle who edited our Weld Street Project and also did reporting for it. She has an interest in how the system helps or doesn't help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@ This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Ontario County GOP voters to decide DA primary June 24: What to know
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
People Are Sharing The Mild Inconveniences They'd Actually Wish Upon Their Worst Enemy, And The Creativity Is Both Twisted And Impressive
Sometimes the littlest things can end up being the most annoying. Reddit user toto93lnd recently asked, "You curse your enemy, but it can only slightly inconvenience them. What would it be?" Here are the prettiest responses: 1."They start to sneeze, but never fully sneeze." —u/Ok-Opinion-8701 2."Every pair of shoes they wear is sticky on the bottom, even if they're brand new. They can never escape the sound or feel of sticky shoes." —u/theOTHERdimension 3."They will always pick the slowest-moving line. Grocery store check out, in traffic, or anywhere a line may exist." —u/Possible_Ad_4094 4."I hope your every meal is never the right temperature when you eat it." —u/Kimikohiei 5."May both sides of your pillow be warm." —u/Wolfie_142 6."They never leave the house with everything the first time, but they realize every time they sit down in the car." —u/Kman1986 7."Every traffic light will turn red when you approach." —u/Canucklehead_Esq 8."Their sheets will never fit their bed properly." —u/Shot_Fox3432 9."May you wipe and wipe but never get your butt clean." —u/JustWowinCA 10."You shall have the constant feeling of a hair in your mouth." —u/BreakfastTerrible659 Related: Private Investigators Are Sharing The Most Disturbing Cases They've Ever Gotten, And Wow 11."The first pen they pick up will always be out of ink." —u/flstcjay 12."Whenever they buy a bag of salad and take it home and put it in the fridge, it's already turning brown and getting slimy the very next time they open the fridge." —u/unclemikey0 13."Their hair always looks a little bit greasy." —u/CodReasonable 14."May your socks always slip down in your shoes." —u/binky_snoosh 15."For the rest of their life, they always choose the wrong option first when deciding whether to push or pull every door they encounter." —u/klc81 16."Eyelash in your eye forever." —u/Empty_Estus Related: People Are Sharing How What Happened In Vegas Did NOT Stay In Vegas, And This Should Be A Lesson To Never Go To A Bachelor/Bachelorette Party There 17."All of their socks are mildly damp, enough to be uncomfortable." —u/TraumaGirly 18."The audio for every video they watch will always be either a few seconds early or a few seconds late compared to the visuals." —u/The-idea-man 19."May their marinara never cling to their pasta." —u/ThatweirdoCrystal 20."Always stubbing their little toe whenever they walk past anything." —u/Meggiekayyy 21."Spinach stuck in their front teeth. Forever." —u/Limp-Owl2643 22."Every time they turn on a radio, no matter the station, it plays a song they hate." —u/Puzzleheaded_Jury429 23."Make them lose one sock every time in the washing machine." —u/Future-Exercise-5667 24."Thumbs don't work on touch screens." —u/verified_OP 25."Shoes automatically untie themselves every 10 steps." —u/lastfreerangekid 26."They always bite their tongue when they chew." —u/elvisluvr 27."May they always lose one headphone." —u/WimbledonWombleRep 28."Lose their car keys right when they need to leave." —u/Kshi-dragonfly 29."They hear that 'drip drip' water sound every day, all times of day, louder while sleeping." —u/runawayrosa 30."Random wifi and data disconnecting every few hours. It immediately goes away when someone else looks at it and never manifests at the store." —u/wayoverpaid 31."Anytime they are in a situation where they need to use an app right away, it wants them to update it first. Want to call an Uber? Hold on, needs to update. I've got a Zoom meeting now! Give me a sec, updating. Trying to share that new song with a friend? Oh, wait, updating." —u/Thomisawesome finally, "They step on a small Lego every time they get out of bed." —u/Vexonar What's the most annoying mild inconvenience you'd add to this list? Share your thoughts in the comments! Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity. Also in Internet Finds: I Need To Call My Doc For A New Inhaler After Cackling So Hard At These 41 Funny Tweets From The Week Also in Internet Finds: Here Are 50 Pictures That Make Me Grin Uncontrollably No Matter How Many Times I've Seen Them, In Case You Need Them Also in Internet Finds: People In HR Revealed Truly Unhinged Reasons Employees Got Fired, And My Jaw Is On The Floor
