Latest news with #SOSA
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ariel Winter Says Dealing with 'Male Predators' as a Child Star 'Affected Me So Deeply': 'It Caused Trauma'
Ariel Winter opened up about her experience with "male predators" in Hollywood during her time growing up in the industry The Modern Family actress said these experiences "affected me so deeply" and "caused trauma" These days, Winter is turning her pain into purpose thanks to her work with SOSA (Safe From Online Sex Abuse), an organization that fights online sexual predatorsAriel Winter is opening up about dealing with "male predators" in Hollywood. The 27-year-old, most famous for playing Alex Dunphy on Modern Family during the iconic sitcom's 11-season run from 2009 to 2020, discussed the lasting effects of her experiences as a young actress during an interview with "I am familiar with male predators because I worked in Hollywood at a young age. I started at age 4," she said. "I don't wanna say too much about it, but by the time I was on a laptop and cell phone, I was getting inappropriate messages from older men, and it caused trauma." "The experiences I had in person and online as a child have affected me so deeply that I've had to go to therapy for it," she continued. "The movie and TV industry is a dark place." The actress previously opened up to PEOPLE in a May 2025 cover story about her yearslong work with the organization SOSA (Safe From Online Sex Abuse). SOSA is made up of women who pose as young decoys to lure in Internet pedophiles in sting operations. They collaborate with local law enforcement and vice squads to arrange in-person meetings with those looking to abuse children to get them arrested. Winter said seeing SOSA's work "impacted me deeply because I was that kid so many times over that was preyed upon in person online." "I was just like, God, I would love to be able to help be a part of that," she continued. "I don't want to say there's a solution, but I would love to help take some of these people off the streets." "It's nerve-racking," she told PEOPLE of the stings. "We build decoy rooms in case the [perp] wants to see our rooms; we have personas. It's very serious." Though she said she finds the work fulfilling, it's also triggering. "I didn't realize it would bring up some of the things past traumas for me that it did, but when you're in disguise as a 12-year-old and someone is telling you what they're going to do to your 12-year-old body… it's hard," she said. "I experienced a lot in my time in this industry and a lot just in so many other areas," she added. "I feel so lucky to have come out where I have now." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ariel Winter Says Dealing with 'Male Predators' as a Child Star 'Affected Me So Deeply': 'It Caused Trauma'
Ariel Winter opened up about her experience with "male predators" in Hollywood during her time growing up in the industry The Modern Family actress said these experiences "affected me so deeply" and "caused trauma" These days, Winter is turning her pain into purpose thanks to her work with SOSA (Safe From Online Sex Abuse), an organization that fights online sexual predatorsAriel Winter is opening up about dealing with "male predators" in Hollywood. The 27-year-old, most famous for playing Alex Dunphy on Modern Family during the iconic sitcom's 11-season run from 2009 to 2020, discussed the lasting effects of her experiences as a young actress during an interview with "I am familiar with male predators because I worked in Hollywood at a young age. I started at age 4," she said. "I don't wanna say too much about it, but by the time I was on a laptop and cell phone, I was getting inappropriate messages from older men, and it caused trauma." "The experiences I had in person and online as a child have affected me so deeply that I've had to go to therapy for it," she continued. "The movie and TV industry is a dark place." The actress previously opened up to PEOPLE in a May 2025 cover story about her yearslong work with the organization SOSA (Safe From Online Sex Abuse). SOSA is made up of women who pose as young decoys to lure in Internet pedophiles in sting operations. They collaborate with local law enforcement and vice squads to arrange in-person meetings with those looking to abuse children to get them arrested. Winter said seeing SOSA's work "impacted me deeply because I was that kid so many times over that was preyed upon in person online." "I was just like, God, I would love to be able to help be a part of that," she continued. "I don't want to say there's a solution, but I would love to help take some of these people off the streets." "It's nerve-racking," she told PEOPLE of the stings. "We build decoy rooms in case the [perp] wants to see our rooms; we have personas. It's very serious." Though she said she finds the work fulfilling, it's also triggering. "I didn't realize it would bring up some of the things past traumas for me that it did, but when you're in disguise as a 12-year-old and someone is telling you what they're going to do to your 12-year-old body… it's hard," she said. "I experienced a lot in my time in this industry and a lot just in so many other areas," she added. "I feel so lucky to have come out where I have now." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ariel Winter Says Dealing with 'Male Predators' as a Child Star 'Affected Me So Deeply': 'It Caused Trauma'
Ariel Winter opened up about her experience with "male predators" in Hollywood during her time growing up in the industry The Modern Family actress said these experiences "affected me so deeply" and "caused trauma" These days, Winter is turning her pain into purpose thanks to her work with SOSA (Safe From Online Sex Abuse), an organization that fights online sexual predatorsAriel Winter is opening up about dealing with "male predators" in Hollywood. The 27-year-old, most famous for playing Alex Dunphy on Modern Family during the iconic sitcom's 11-season run from 2009 to 2020, discussed the lasting effects of her experiences as a young actress during an interview with "I am familiar with male predators because I worked in Hollywood at a young age. I started at age 4," she said. "I don't wanna say too much about it, but by the time I was on a laptop and cell phone, I was getting inappropriate messages from older men, and it caused trauma." "The experiences I had in person and online as a child have affected me so deeply that I've had to go to therapy for it," she continued. "The movie and TV industry is a dark place." The actress previously opened up to PEOPLE in a May 2025 cover story about her yearslong work with the organization SOSA (Safe From Online Sex Abuse). SOSA is made up of women who pose as young decoys to lure in Internet pedophiles in sting operations. They collaborate with local law enforcement and vice squads to arrange in-person meetings with those looking to abuse children to get them arrested. Winter said seeing SOSA's work "impacted me deeply because I was that kid so many times over that was preyed upon in person online." "I was just like, God, I would love to be able to help be a part of that," she continued. "I don't want to say there's a solution, but I would love to help take some of these people off the streets." "It's nerve-racking," she told PEOPLE of the stings. "We build decoy rooms in case the [perp] wants to see our rooms; we have personas. It's very serious." Though she said she finds the work fulfilling, it's also triggering. "I didn't realize it would bring up some of the things past traumas for me that it did, but when you're in disguise as a 12-year-old and someone is telling you what they're going to do to your 12-year-old body… it's hard," she said. "I experienced a lot in my time in this industry and a lot just in so many other areas," she added. "I feel so lucky to have come out where I have now." Read the original article on People
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Modern Family star Ariel Winter reveals ‘trauma' after being targeted by ‘male predators' aged just 12 years old
MODERN Family star Ariel Winter has revealed the 'trauma' she carries after being targeted by 'male predators' at just 12 years old. The 27-year-old actress, most famous for appearing on Modern Family, said the experience "affected me so deeply" and "caused trauma". 5 5 5 Opening up during an interview with Ariel discussed the lasting effects of her experiences as a young actress growing up in Hollywood. Ariel played Alex Dunphy on Modern Family during the sitcom's 11-season run from 2009 to 2020. She told the 'I am familiar with male predators because I worked in Hollywood at a young age. I started at age four. "I don't wanna say too much about it, but by the time I was on a laptop and cell phone, I was getting inappropriate messages from older men, and it caused trauma." "The experiences I had in person and online as a child have affected me so deeply that I've had to go to therapy for it," she continued. "The movie and TV industry is a dark place." Ariel is now hitting back at online sexual predators by working with the organization SOSA (Safe From Online Sex Abuse). SOSA is an organisation made up of women who pretend to be young decoys in a bit to lure in Internet pedophiles and catch them out. They work with local law enforcement to arrange face-to-face meetings with the predators so they can get them arrested. The actress started working with SOSA after her boyfriend, Luke Benward, encouraged her to get in touch with them as a volunteer. She now joins undercover missions herself, saying: 'It's nerve-racking. We build decoy rooms in case the [perp] wants to see our rooms. We have personas. It's very serious." Ariel Winter on breast reduction and her battle with her mother Although what she does feels rewarding, Ariel says it does trigger her sometimes. "I didn't realize it would bring up some of the things past traumas for me that it did,' she said. 5 5
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
‘Modern Family's' Ariel Winter speaks on suffering trauma in Hollywood as a child star
Ariel Winter has spoken about the trauma she experienced as a child star in Hollywood and how it led her to support the organisation SOSA (Safe From Online Sex Abuse), which combats online sexual predators. 'I am familiar with male predators because I worked in Hollywood at a young age. I started at age 4,' Winter told 'I don't wanna say too much about it, but by the time I was on a laptop and cell phone, I was getting inappropriate messages from older men, and it caused trauma.' She added, 'The experiences I had in person and online as a child have affected me so deeply that I've had to go to therapy for it. The movie and TV industry is a dark place.' Winter, known for her role as Alex Dunphy on Modern Family, has turned her experiences into purpose by working with SOSA, an organisation that conducts sting operations against online predators by using women posing as young decoys. 'Seeing SOSA's work impacted me deeply because I was that kid so many times over that was preyed upon in person online,' she said. 'I don't want to say there's a solution, but I would love to help take some of these people off the streets.' With the encouragement of her boyfriend, Luke Benward, Winter has joined undercover missions with SOSA, describing the experience as 'nerve-racking' and 'very serious'.
