Ariel Winter Joins Sting Operation to Expose Oklahoma Child Predator

Ariel Winter, the 27-year-old actress known for her role as Alex Dunphy on 'Modern Family,' participated in an undercover sting operation to catch a child sexual predator, working with the nonprofit Safe from Online Sex Abuse (SOSA) for their true crime docuseries 'SOSA Undercover.' Winter posed as a 12-year-old girl, wearing a blonde wig and using a childlike voice during a FaceTime call with a 31-year-old predator in Oklahoma City, aiming to identify and help put away offenders. She described the experience as both scary and validating, emphasizing the importance of protecting young women based on her own difficult experiences growing up in the entertainment industry, where she faced grooming, abuse, and harsh public scrutiny during her adolescence. Winter highlighted the alarming prevalence of predators who often appear as normal, even family-oriented men, underscoring the hidden dangers children face online. This personal mission reflects her commitment to safeguarding others from the abuse she endured, making her involvement deeply meaningful. The operation, monitored by authorities, ultimately exposed the predator, contributing to efforts to combat child exploitation.