Modern Family's Ariel Winter's Mother Denies Alleged Abuse

The mother of 14-year-old Modern Family star Ariel Winter denied Wednesday allegations she abused her daughter, who has a restraining order against her mom and has moved out of the house.

"It's all untrue, it's all untrue," Chris Workman tells PEOPLE.

According to court papers filed Oct. 3 in Los Angeles, Winter – who plays Alex Dunphy on the hit show – alleges her mother subjected her to "ongoing physical abuse (slapping, hitting, pushing) and emotional abuse (vile name-calling, personal insults about minor and minor's weight, attempts to 'sexualize' minor, deprivation of food, etc.) for an extended period of time."

A judge last month granted Ariel's older sister, Shanelle Gray, temporary guardianship and ordered Workman not to contact her daughter until further notice.

But Workman tells PEOPLE, "I have my doctor's letter that my daughter's never been abused. … I have stylists' letters that she's never been abused."

According to the papers, a judge granted Gray guardianship until a follow-up hearing Nov. 20 and ordered that Workman refrain from contacting Ariel pending further court order.

A rep for Winter could not be reached for comment.

Modern Family's Ariel Winter's Mother Denies Alleged Abuse

This is such a sad story and I feel bad for her. Apparently, her older sister was removed from their mother's home almost 20 years ago under a similar situation so there may be truth to it all.

Re: Modern Family's Ariel Winter's Mother Denies Alleged Abuse

Wow. That's so sad to hear, but I'm not surprised. I bet this goes on more than we know with child actors. I love her on the show and hope she's okay!