"Modern Family" star Ariel Winter is throwing DISS after DISS at her birth mom ... making it clear, she wants NOTHING to do with her biological life-giver ever again.

As you know, 15-year-old Ariel has been at war with Chrystal Workman for the past year -- and even got a judge to strip her mother of custody in 2012 after claiming she was subjected to emotional abuse.

Now, Ariel is pouring salt in the wound -- by making public statements in which she makes it clear, her mother is dead to her ... and her older sister Shanelle has filled the emotional void.

When asked about her family yesterday, Winter told People.com, "My sister is the most amazing woman I've ever met in my life. If I could be half the woman she is ... she's kind of who I want to be like."

Did you catch the thinly veiled dig at her mom? If not, check out what she Instagrammed on Mother's Day:

"Happy Mother's Day to my amazing mister, Shanelle Gray. I know everyone is going to ask what a mister is, so I'll explain. It means mom/sister to me."

She continued, "She's my best friend ... She's also the most incredible mother. I am so blessed and lucky to have her."

Translation -- Ariel's over Chrystal ... and from what we're told, she has good reason. How's THAT for a modern family?

 

15-year-old "Modern Family" star Ariel Winter is moving on up ... into a big new house with her big sister ... and TMZ has learned, Ariel didn't pay a cent for it.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ, the San Fernando Valley house was paid for entirely by Ariel's sister Shanelle Gray and Shanelle's hubby David Barry Gray, a wealthy heir to the Pepsi fortune.  The couple has plenty of dough -- they're both working actors and have a successful business on the side.

TMZ broke the story ... Ariel refuses to even speak to her mother Chrystal Workman, who was stripped of her parental rights last year when a judge found she had been emotionally abusive.

Here's Khloe Kardashian at a McDonald's event in Hollywood on Thursday (left) and "Modern Family" star Sofia Vergara back in 2011 (right).

The twins.

We're just sayin'.

Ariel Winter's lawyer told a judge today, the "Modern Family" star wants NOTHING to do with her mother ... and won't even sit in the same room with her.

Ariel's guardianship case was back in court, and mama Chrystal Workman complained ... her daughter refuses to do therapy with her mom.  Chrystal wanted the judge to force Ariel into therapy with her mom, but the judge nixed the request.

The judge said he couldn't force a teenager to have a relationship with her mom if she doesn't want it.  

As we previously reported .... 15-year-old Ariel is now under the guardianship of her sister Shanelle Gray, after Ariel complained she was being physically and emotionally abused by her mom.  The court found emotional abuse and stripped Chrystal of her parental rights.

Ariel hasn't spoken with her mom in 5 months -- when the guardianship was created.

"Modern Family" star Rico Rodriguez has a few million reasons why he wants you to watch his show -- the actor will make up to $115,000 PER EPISODE ... if it lasts another 5 seasons, according to legal docs.

14-year-old Rico -- who plays Sofia Vergara's son on the show -- renegotiated his "MF" contract last year (along with the rest of the cast).  So his new deal starts in the current season -- season 4.

Here's what the lil guy is guaranteed over the next five seasons: 

Season 4: $75,000 per episode, min of 12 episodes    
Season 5: $85,000 per episode, min of 12 episodes
Season 6: $95,000 per episode, min of 11 episodes
Season 7: $105,000 per episode, min of 11 episodes
Season 8: $115,000 per episode, min of 10 episodes

FYI: In each of the first 3 seasons there were 24 episodes -- meaning Rico has the potential to make almost $2 million during the current season, and by season 8 he could make $2.8 million!

But wait, there's more ... Rico's new deal also includes a bonus in season 8  -- an extra $2,500 per episode -- if the show can meet a minimum ratings requirement.

So keep watching America ... IT'S FOR THE CHILDREN.

Should have taken the stairs ... three "Modern Family" stars had to be rescued by the Kansas City Fire department Friday -- after getting trapped in an elevator for an hour!!!

Julie Bowen, Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson were on their way to a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel, but got delayed when their elevator broke down, according to the Kansas City Star.

While trapped, the actors snapped a photo of the ordeal and posted it on Twitter while waiting for firemen rescue them.

According to the report, the Kansas City Fire Department freed them after about an hour and the threesome made it to the event (which they were headliners for) an hour late, but full of "hey we just got stuck in an elevator" jokes.

Comedy ... practically writes itself.

3:00 PM PT -- Sources directly connected with the cast and crew at "Modern Family" tell TMZ ... they're upset by the intimation that Julie is not supporting Ariel's current arrangement -- living with her sister.  We're told "the entire show" is behind the temporary guardianship and believes Ariel is better off.


The TMZ newsroom is DIVIDED!!!! And it's all over this clip of "Modern Family" star Julie Bowen commenting about the guardianship surrounding her co-star Ariel Winter.

Here's the deal -- Bowen was leaving a Golden Globes party in Hollywood last night when we asked if she was happy Ariel was removed from the custody of her mom and placed with her older sister.

Bowen's response was interesting ... "Ummmmmmm ... if she's happier, then I'm happier."

It wasn't a hard "yes" ... but it wasn't a "no" either.

Some people in the newsroom (Harvey) think the answer shows Julie believes Ariel's allegations that her mom was abusive ... and believes she's better off with her older sister.

But other people in the newsroom (everyone else) ... thinks the way Julie made the comment shows she DOESN'T think Ariel's better off ... and gave a politically correct, vanilla response to avoid revealing how she truly feels.

Listen to how Julie says it.  Then, we gotta ask ...

They play for opposite teams on television, and last night "Modern Family" stars Eric Stonestreet and Ty Burrell went head-to-head on the sidelines to root for their teams at the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in AZ.

While Stonestreet was cheering for his alma mater Kansas State Wildcats, Burrell had the backs of his home state Oregon Ducks.

In the end, Burrell's Ducks won 35-17 ... and all without a warm, touchy-feely closing voice-over.

Dear Fiesta Bowl, next year please invite Sofia Vergara's alma mater ... Colombia University (as in S. America, not Ivy).

Ariel Winter's about to do something she's never done before -- attend high school like a normal kid, and get this ... she can't wait to go ... TMZ has learned.

The "Modern Family" star is now enrolled in a private school in the L.A. area and will start attending classes later this month ... sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ.

It's a big change for Ariel because we're told she's always been privately tutored.

According to our sources, producers at "Modern Family" are "thrilled" and will happily schedule shoots around the girl's classes.

We're told Ariel has been "flourishing" in her sister Shanelle Gray's home, where the rules are strict.  Sources say Ariel's happier than ever, and producers have noticed a big, positive change in her mood.

As we previously reported ... Shanelle became Ariel's temporary guardian after allegations surfaced that her mother, Chrystal Workman, was emotionally abusing her.

Ariel's attorney and father now have control over her considerable finances -- $75,000/episode -- as per a settlement hammered out last month.

We've got 2 words for Ariel: cafeteria lunches.  

Good luck!

Sofia Vergara's strapless gown lost a New Year's Eve fight -- but every guy in the party won when one of her glorious boobs popped out of the dress in the middle of the scuffle.

Sofia and her fiance Nick Loeb were partying inside the Miami nightclub Story when the pushing and shoving started -- reportedly with some people at a table next to theirs.

Sofia jumped in to try to break up the fight, got bumped to the ground ... and that's when her gown -- which was already holding on for dear life (below) -- released its precious cargo.


The "Modern Family" star wasn't hurt in the brief melee ... but Nick reportedly suffered a few bruises while struggling with security.

Happy boob year!

With her guardianship situation settled for the moment, Ariel Winter spent yesterday acting like an actual 14-year-old girl by going go-karting in Burbank.

Winter's sister, Shanelle Gray, cemented her role as temporary legal guardian earlier this month, with her lawyer and dad now in control of her finances. 

A hearing to make the guardianship permanent is set for March.  Let's hope she gets in as much kid time as possible until then.