Paparazzi Photo

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.

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.

Marc Anthony pulled a page from his ex Jennifer Lopez's post-breakup play book and frolicked on the beach with his much younger hot lover Shannon de Lima in Miami on Thursday.

"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.

Former reality trainwreck Heidi Montag took a break from living in obscurity to wash up on the beach with all her augmented fake body parts in a skimpy red bikini in Santa Monica on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old former "The Hills" star -- who infamously had 10 plastic surgery procedures in one single day back in 2009 -- did some of her best acting while hamming it up for the cameras on the sand.

With her lovely little monsters stuffed into her bikini top, Lady Gaga showed off her sexy new curves and flat tummy while waving to fans from her hotel balcony in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday.

She was born this way.

It may not be an engagement ring, but Kim Kardashian did oh-so nonchalantly flash some gold finger bling with Kanye West's initials as she arrived to the airport in Miami on Tuesday.

The day before the elections, singer turned television show judge Christina Aguilera showed off her bootyful patriotic backside in a pair of sexy skintight blue pants with white stars all over them in L.A. last night.

Aguilera was at Mozza, where she had dinner with fellow "Voice" judge Blake Shelton and his wife Miranda Lambert (video below).

Ridiculously sexy "Real Housewives of Miami" star Joanna Krupa got the ride of her life ... by straddling her very lucky fiancé Romain Zago in the nippy waters off South Beach this weekend.

The 33-year-old smokin' hot bombshell showed off her perfect Polish lady parts in an environmentally friendly green bikini.

Joanna is really wrapped up in her man.

Cee Lo Green is stickin' with sexy black hot rods -- a classic convertible and looking cool as a cucumber.

"The Voice" judge -- who's tooling around L.A. today in the whip -- is under investigation by the LAPD for sexual battery, after a woman claimed he slipped her ecstasy at a restaurant and then sexually assaulted her back in July. She says she passed out in the restaurant and the next thing she knew she was naked in a bed with Cee Lo in the room.

The singer has adamantly denied any wrongdoing.

Pop "singer" Ke$ha showed off all of her lovely bones in Australia this weekend ... by wearing a momtastic black one piece swimsuit with an image of a skeleton on it.

That is all.

Rumors be damned ... a frustrated Joe Simpson is telling friends and colleagues the stories that he's switched teams are absurd.

There have been several reports out recently that Joe has told his family he's gay and that's why his marriage fell apart. There are also reports about several guys he's rumored to be dating/hooking up with.

The people we spoke with are split -- some believe him, and some think he's just not ready to come out publicly.

So we gotta ask ...

From the front, 32-year-old super model Gisele Bundchen is pregnant with hubby Tom Brady's baby.

From the back, you'd never know.

Alex Rodriguez may be done with New York, because he and his wrestler girlfriend Torrie Wilson were spotted house hunting in Beverly Hills on Thursday.

While he's out shopping for new West Coast digs, the Yankee third baseman is still trying to unload his ginormous Miami palace for $38 million.

Even Hurricane Sandy doesn't want to mess with the "Jersey Shore" ... because the infamous Seaside Heights home that housed Snooki and the gang survived "virtually untouched" by the massive storm that ravaged the East Coast this week.

We're told other than losing a few shingles, the only damage to the home was to the boards and lumber underneath the house. Amazingly, all of the windows remained intact ... no broken glass.

The house is located behind the boardwalk t-shirt store where the cast worked -- that store was crushed by Sandy's wrath.

This is Nicole Trunfio ... and she's the only famous person we could find today who's in a bikini.

In case you don't know who she is ... Nicole is an Australian-born fashion model who's worked for Victoria's Secret, Chanel, Vogue ... you get the idea.

We really didn't know who she was either ... so we went to her website ... and were greeted with a video that contains partial nudity.

So, if you don't like partial nudity, you should definitely NOT go to her website ... NicoleTrunfio.net.