Ariel Winter Family Drama

Ariel Winter was out and about Sunday doing TOTALLY NORMAL 14-YEAR-OLD-GIRL STUFF... like chowing down on a snow cone -- days before her guardianship hearing.

Ariel and her older sister Shanelle Gray -- a.k.a Ariel's temporary guardian -- hit up the Farmer's Market in Studio City ... and smiled like two people who are really, really happy.

As TMZ previously reported ... the "Modern Family" star is the middle of a nasty court battle with her mother Chrystal Workman over guardianship ... after Ariel claimed she was physically and verbally abused. Ariel's mom has denied the allegations.

Ariel Winter stared down a crazed stage mother last night ... a woman hell bent on giving her daughter a competitive edge -- but it wasn't real life, it was the storyline on "Modern Family" ... wonder where they could've found inspiration for THAT plot line???

The episode -- which was most likely written and taped months ago -- featured Julie Bowen's character confronting the judges at an academic challenge after her daughter Alex (Ariel Winter) got eliminated.

An embarrassed Alex sees the confrontation and immediately tries to stop her mom -- "You're just mad because now you can't parade me around like some show pony!"

It all seemed eerily familiar to the non-fictional mother-daughter drama that's erupted between Ariel and Chrystal Workman behind the scenes.

As we reported, Chrystal has developed a reputation as a terror on the set ... in fact, sources say producers have blocked her from various places on the set, including hair and makeup.

Ariel is currently in the temporary guardianship of her older sister Shanelle -- but Ariel's former babysitter and her mom's cousin have both filed declarations supporting the return of Ariel to Chrystal's care.

The babysitter writes, "As a former licensed in-home daycare provider trained to recognize abuse, I saw no signs nor did I witness abuse of any kind (sexual, physical, or emotional) against Ariel."

Meanwhile, Chrystal's cousin calls Chrystal "a morally sound, extremely loving and protective parent."

The cousin writes, "It is without doubt that Ariel is thinking evidently of her age, without understanding the severity of her actions ... Still early in these teenage development years, Ariel must have limits that only a parent can determine" -- a thinly-veiled reference to Ariel's alleged tryst with an 18-year-old boy.

For Ariel's part -- her friends insist she isn't lying about the abuse ... and multiple sources say Chrystal is an overbearing stage mom whom "Modern Family" producers wanted to ban from the set.

Ariel Winter's mom told the guardianship judge when she confronted her daughter about her relationship with an 18-year-old boy, Ariel attacked her and threatened to make her pay ... this according to court transcripts obtained by TMZ.

Before the court heard Chrystal Workman's side, the judge heard exactly what we reported this morning ... that Ariel's mom, Chrystal was "a terror on the set of 'Modern Family' and that the producer and others there have expressed grave concern ..." this according to the lawyer for Ariel's sister.

The transcript chronicles the court hearing last month, at which the judge removed Ariel from the care of her mother and created a temporary guardianship.

According to the lawyer for Shanelle Gray, "The child [Ariel] is, apparently, struck repeatedly, slapped, hit, pushed, not so as to leave marks. Mother is smart enough not to do that."

But Chrystal fired back, "She is an actress so I'm sure she can cry at the drop of a hat." In other words, Chrystal was warning the judge that her daughter was making up her story.

The lawyer for Shanelle also claimed Chrystal "sexualizes the child," and showed the judge a pic of Ariel "dressed up to show off her breasts and otherwise."

The lawyer also mentions what we said this morning ... that people on the set of "Modern Family" were "having to sneak this child food because the mother deprives the child of food."

Ariel Winter's mom was an abusive menace on the set of "Modern Family" ... so much so, producers wanted her BANNED from set -- this according to a source close to the situation.

TMZ spoke with a source -- who worked on the show for over a year and had constant contact with Ariel -- who says Chrystal Workman (Ariel's mom) was "hated" by the crew, producers, actors and other mothers ... because she made Ariel's life a living Hell.

Specifically we're told Chrystal would sit on set and watch Ariel like a hawk -- and then berate her for her physical appearance, saying her ears were too big and she looked ugly in her clothes. She also blocked Ariel from eating anything but egg whites and raw veggies.

Our source tells us, the mom's obsession with Ariel's diet was so extreme ... crew members contrived a plan to "sneak" the 14-year-old food (like grilled cheese sandwiches) when her mom wasn't looking.

And there's more. We're told ... Chrystal was very vocal about Ariel's money -- claiming her daughter needed to rake in more cash to pay for their house, her agents, managers and publicists.

Our source adds, "I'm so happy for Ariel that she went to the extreme and got out from under that miserable woman's care."

Close friends of Ariel Winter tell TMZ ... she NEVER got intimate with an 18-year-old boy, and her mother has manufactured the story to get back at her for trying to break from her maternal grip.

Ariel has told friends her mom is "flat out lying" when she claimed she walked into the guest bedroom and found her 14-year-old in bed with Cameron Palatas. One source says, "Ariel is so innocent, she never even kissed a boy until her first kiss in a 'Modern Family' episode."

Another independent and credible source tells TMZ ... he saw Ariel and Cameron kissing and "touchy feely" at a WWE party over the summer, but he did not see anything more intimate than that.

As we previously reported, Ariel's mom, Chrystal Workman, didn't report the alleged encounter to authorities for a long period of time, and only AFTER a judge gave Ariel's sister temporary guardianship of the girl and ordered Chrystal to stay clear of her.

"Modern Family" star Ariel Winter is in a "much better situation" now that she's away from her mother and living with her older sister ... this according to one of Ariel's closest friends.

TMZ spoke with Sterling Beaumon -- a fellow child star who met Ariel on the set of a Nintendo commercial a few years ago. He also starred as a young Ben Linus on "Lost."

Beaumon tells us he's still very tight with Ariel -- and has had extensive conversations with the 14-year-old actress since a judge removed her from her mother's home and named her older sister Shanelle as her temporary guardian.

"Everything is good with her," Sterling said ... "She's in a much better situation now."

He adds, "I actually know her sister as well ... her sister is a wonderful girl, woman actually ... great person. "

When asked about allegations that Ariel's mother Chrystal has abused the actress both mentally and physically ... Sterling said, "I can say that [Ariel is] not lying ... there's no reason for her to lie about something like this."

Ariel Winter (right), her sister and her niece all donned their New Yorks Giants gear and hit up a farmer's market in Studio City, CA today.

Ariel Winter's mother was an overbearing stage mom who constantly criticized Ariel and ordered her never to leave her side ... this according to a source on the set of one of Ariel's recent movies.

In June 2010, Ariel filmed "The Chaperone," starring Triple H. But according to a source who worked on the film, Ariel's mom Chrystal acted like she was the star of the movie.

We're told Chrystal had her own director's chair and listened to each take on her headphones. After each take, Chrystal would pull Ariel aside to tell her what she did wrong.

Our source says Chrystal opinions weren't reserved just for her daughter -- she would often tell the writers and director what she thought of each scene. Our source says Chrystal would even order around the production assistants ... making them fetch her food from Craft Services.

The movie starred many other child actors, but we're told Ariel never got a chance to hang out with them because she was not allowed to leave her mother's side.

Our source adds ... while Chrystal seemed like the stereotypical, overbearing stage mom ... they never witnessed any sort of abuse.

Chrystal's antics weren't just reserved for Ariel. TMZ spoke with Chrystal's brother-in-law, who told us Chrystal acted the same way with Ariel's sister Shanelle when she was growing up.

Winter has been staying with her older sister since being removed from her mother's home following allegations of abuse and her sister was awarded temporary guardianship.

Ariel's mother has accused Shanelle of trying take advantage of the situation for her own monetary gain. But as TMZ first reported, court records show that Ariel's temporary guardianship prevents anyone from having access to her money.

Ariel Winter's grandfather claims he never witnessed any abuse of the "Modern Family" actress at the hands of her mother ... according to a declaration filed in the bitter guardianship case.

TMZ obtained a copy of the letter to the court in which James Batistas writes ... his daughter, Chrystal Workman is a "very good mother to all the children."

Batistas adds, "I have never seen any abuse from my daugther or son-in-law towards my granddaughters neither physical nor emotionally."

As TMZ first reported ... a judge ruled allegations Chrystal was abusing 14-year-old Ariel were serious enough that he removed Ariel from her mother's home. Ariel's older sister Shanelle Gray now has temporary guardianship.

In his letter, Batistas also points out that Shanelle came to live with him when she was 16 ... after she also accused her mother of abuse nearly 20 years ago.

However, multiple sources close to the family tell TMZ, Shanelle was actually in the foster care system for more than 2 years before Batistas took custody and moved her to his home in Virginia.

We're also told Batistas only sees his granddaughters about once every 2 years now -- since he still lives in VA -- but does maintain a close relationship with Chrystal by phone.

We broke the story ... 14-year-old Ariel Winter from "Modern Family" is now under a temporary guardianship after allegations her mother, Chrystal Workman, brutalized her.

It's a sad situation, so we gotta ask ...

Ariel Winter sent a very public message to her mother ... she's STANDING STRONG with her big sister and temporary guardian Shanelle Gray.

In a major show of support, Ariel clutched her sister's hand as they walked into a hair salon in Los Angeles earlier today ... and, of course, it was all captured by the paparazzi.

Ariel's mother has accused Shanelle of using the "Modern Family" actress as a "stepping stone" to launch her own acting career. She also claims Shanelle might blow Ariel's fortune on herself.

Shanelle claims she's rescuing Ariel from a physically and emotionally abusive mother.

"Modern Family" star Ariel Winter's mother wants to put this whole child abuse scandal behind her -- claiming, "I love Ariel. I want to work things out, and I want her to come home."

Ariel's mom Chrystal Workman wasn't feeling too talkative out in L.A. earlier today -- but said she wants to put an end to the mother-daughter dispute ASAP.

As we reported, Chrystal is accused of being physically and emotionally abusive toward Ariel -- and as a result, authorities have removed Ariel from the home ... temporarily placing Ariel with her older sister.

Ariel Winter's mother told the court ... she NEVER trashed her daughter or called her fat ... despite allegations to the contrary ... TMZ has learned.

Chrystal Workman filed a declaration with the court, obtained by TMZ, in which she fires back at allegations made by Ariel's older sister Shanelle ... that Chrystal would constantly say horrible things to Ariel.

In the docs, Chrystal says, "The allegations in [Shanelle's] petition are untrue. I have never put Ariel down or told her that she is overweight."

In fact, Chrystal says she constantly told her daughter that she is "smart, beautiful and talented."

"Since birth, I have loved and cared for Ariel in all her physiological and emotional needs," Chrystal says ... adding, "I have always been her caretaker and looked out for her best interests."

We broke the story ... Shanelle was awarded temporary guardianship of Ariel over allegations that Chrystal physically and emotionally abused Ariel. Chrystal has denied the allegations.

In the docs, Chrystal also claims Shanelle is only using Ariel as a "stepping stone to further her own career as an actress."

Chrystal says Ariel makes $75k per week from "Modern Family" alone ... and is concerned Shanelle will misuse the money to buy herself a new house.

Chrystal Workman is defending the verbal lashing she gave an attorney as a gut reaction to her daughter Ariel Winter being taken from her ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ broke the story ... during a guardianship hearing for the "Modern Family" star last month ... Chrystal yelled at Ariel's guardianship attorney and called her a "moron."

Sources close to the family tell us Chrystal was very upset because she felt like lies were being spewed in court about her parenting and she was fed up ... as she claims any mother would be.

As one source put it, "If someone were trying to take your child that you loved more than anything else away from you, wouldn't you react in a similar way?"

We're told Chrystal apologized in court shortly after the outburst.

As for why Chrystal waited 2 weeks to notify the Sheriff's Department -- about allegedly catching 14-year-old Ariel and the boyfriend in a sexual situation ... we're told she thought she could handle it privately like any other parent.

But we're told she thought she had no other choice after the guardianship hearing ... because she felt like Ariel -- and her older daughter Shanelle -- had ambushed her in court.