Ariel Winter is putting her acting skills to good work by going undercover as part of a child predator sting operation.
Winter, 27, teamed up with the nonprofit Safe from Online Sex Abuse (SOSA) to film an episode of their true crime docuseries called SOSA Undercover, streaming on YouTube. During one episode, Winter posed as a 12-year-old girl to lure in a predator in Oklahoma City.
“It’s definitely cathartic to be teaming with SOSA, knowing that I can make a difference,’ the Modern Family alum told the Daily Mail in an interview published on Friday, June 13. “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.”
Winter wore a blonde wig and FaceTimed a 31-year-old predator in one scene, while lounging on a bed meant to look like a child’s room. She used a childlike voice as she spoke to the man and tried to identify him for an arrest.
Winter told the outlet, “Growing up in the entertainment industry, I’ve been the girl we are trying to save. It’s vital to me to help protect young women from the experiences I endured in my own life.”
Winter grew up in the limelight, playing Alex Dunphy on Modern Family from 2009 to 2020. She was only 11 when the show premiered. As she grew up and her body started to develop, Winter was heavily scrutinized.
“It was just everywhere,” Winter told People in May of the negative remarks. “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.”
The actress — whose sister, Shanelle Gray, became her legal guardian after Winter accused her mom, Chrisoula Workman, of physical and emotional abuse during her Modern Family days — recalled being a “victim of grooming online and IRL and CSA [child sex abuse]” before finding her voice and a safe place for herself. (Winter’s mom has denied all allegations of abuse.)
“Technically, yes, I’m a survivor. I’ve gone through some s***,” Winter told People. “But a lot of people have gone through some s***. 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.”
Winter explained to the Daily Mail on Friday that it is a lot of work to catch predators, and although you “see a lot of dark things” during the investigations, it’s worth it.
“This whole experience has been heartbreaking because I think of how young these girls are and they’re being approached by much older men,” Winter confessed.
Even with the scary side to the project, Winter is happy that she has been able to do her part with SOSA. “I like working with SOSA because it’s women helping women and I’ll do it as long as I can,” she said.
SOSA founder Roo Powell said she is happy to enlist Winter’s help as well, especially because the actress is “boosting” their platform and shining a light on the good work they are doing.
“Ariel is getting the word out about SOSA. She has been amazing. She will do anything to help us,” Powell told the outlet. “She helps take out the trash and she’ll eat cold cheeseburgers with us.”
Season 1 of SOSA Undercover is available on YouTube.
