Modern Family

Ariel Winter's brother filed court docs in the guardianship case in which he says he's not taking sides ... and then goes on to squarely take sides.

Jimmy Workman, an actor who famously appeared as Pugsley in "The Addams Family," says in his declaration -- obtained by TMZ -- he "NEVER" saw any physical or emotional abuse by his mother against Ariel. He concedes he saw "normal mother and daughter arguments and banter back and forth but nothing more."

Jimmy says the conflicts worsened when Ariel allegedly refused to break up with her boyfriend.

And then Jimmy says, "My position is not to take sides with anyone, but to get this family back to where it belongs." But the next sentence -- "I as well believe that Shanelle Gray is not the right person to have custody of my younger sister Ariel."

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 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.

The fight that Ariel Winter's mother is waging with her two daughters has gotten so bitter, the older one is now being falsely accused of making a money grab on her younger sister.

The mother, Chrystal Workman, along with Chrystal's reps ... are saying that her older daughter Shanelle -- who now has a temporary guardianship of Ariel -- asked a judge for access to the "Modern Family" star's bank account but was shut down.

Court records, however, show the exact opposite.

The petition for the guardianship specifically requests that all of Ariel's accounts be blocked from everyone, including Shanelle.

Our court sources say Shanelle never asked for a penny during the hearing ... and the court docs reflect that.

Authorities have serious doubts about allegations made by the mother of 14-year-old "Modern Family" actress Ariel Winter ... TMZ has learned -- because they think the mother is making up stories of an illicit sexual relationship to save face after she was stripped of custody.

TMZ broke the story ... a judge determined allegations that Chrystal Workman was physically and emotionally abusing Ariel were so serious, he awarded temporary custody to Ariel's older sister -- and ordered Chrystal to stay 100 yards away from her young daughter.

Law enforcement sources tell us they're not buying Chrystal's claim Ariel was involved in a sexual relationship with an 18-year-old boy, largely because the mom never went to cops until AFTER she lost custody on October 3 -- even though she claims the affair's been going on since the beginning of summer.

Court sources tell us the first time Chrystal mentioned ANYTHING about an illicit relationship was during the guardianship hearing last month ... when she began ranting in court and called the guardianship lawyer a "moron."

We're told she testified about a specific incident on Sept. 24, saying ... "I caught my daughter with her boyfriend in bed -- she's 14. He's 18 and I threw him out and I broke them up."

Due, in no small part, to the timing of Chrystal's testimony ... one law enforcement source tells us they don't believe there was ever a sexual relationship between Ariel and the boy.

"Modern Family" star Ariel Winter's mother insists she did NOT abuse her daughter -- claiming 14-year-old Ariel is making up stories ... because her mother wouldn't let her engage in a sexual act with her 18-year-old boyfriend.

Ariel's mom Chrystal Workman released a statement today, saying ... “I love my daughter very much. I would never abuse her in anyway and I have always tried my best to always protect her and do what is right for her."

She explained, "My fourteen-year-old daughter has been dating an eighteen-and-a-half-year-old man, and when I caught them engaging in behavior that I feel my daughter is too young mentally and physically to understand and fully grasp I put a stop to it immediately."

Chrystal doesn't identify the boyfriend ... but says she filed a report with the LA County Sheriff's Department "because legally he is an adult and if he wants to engage in adult behavior with a minor than [sic] he should also be ready to suffer adult consequences for his actions."

According to the incident report, Chrystal walked in on Ariel and the boyfriend in bed, in the guest room of her home ... on Sept. 24 at around 10pm.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ the Sheriff's Special Victims' Bureau does have an open investigation into Chrystal's allegations.

However, TMZ has learned ... Chrystal's report wasn't filed until 2 weeks after the alleged incident -- and 5 days AFTER she lost custody of Ariel.

TMZ broke the story ... the 14-year-old actress, who plays Alex Dunphy on 'MF', was removed from her mother's care by a judge in the wake of serious allegations of physical and emotional abuse.

Ariel's older sister, Shanelle, now has temporary guardianship of the actress.

Ariel Winter refused to miss work this morning ... despite the family drama in her personal life ... and soldiered over to the "Modern Family" set without her mother.

We broke the story ... the 14-year-old actress, who plays Alex Dunphy on the show, was removed from her mother's care by a judge in the wake of serious allegations of physical and emotional abuse.

Ariel is now in the care of her older sister Shanelle -- who has temporary guardianship over the actress. Her mother, Chrystal, has been ordered to stay at least 100 yards away.

This morning, Ariel hitched a ride to work with a female companion ... sporting a brave face in front of the media.