Ariel Winter Family Drama

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.

Ariel Winter, the 14-year-old actress who plays Alex Dunphy on "Modern Family," has been removed from her home by a judge in the wake of serious allegations of physical and emotional abuse by her mother ... court sources tell TMZ.

There's a report Ariel is seeking legal emancipation from her mom so she can be with her boyfriend, but that report is false.

Court sources tell us ... on October 3rd, after a guardianship hearing, a judge determined the allegations that Ariel was being physically and emotionally abused by her mother Chrystal Workman were serious enough that the judge placed Ariel in a temporary guardianship with her older sister Shanelle Gray. Our sources tell us ... mama Chrystal was ordered to stay 100 yards away from Ariel.

Ironically, we've learned Shanelle suffered the same alleged abuse as Ariel. Nearly two decades ago, the Department of Children and Family Services removed her from Chrystal's home based on similar abuse allegations. Law enforcement sources tell us ... D.C.F.S. placed Shanelle in foster care for more than 2 years. She never went back to her mother.