Ariel Winter’s Mom Sues Actor For Defamation After He Calls Her ‘Abusive Mother’

Ariel Winter’s mom sues actor Matthew Borlenghi, alleging that he made false and defamatory comments online that she was an “abusive mother.

Chrisoula ‘Crystal’ Workman, the mother of Modern Family‘s Ariel Winter, is suing one of her daughter’s associates as part of a public and drawn-out custody battle. The case accuses Borlenghi of defaming Workman, Entertainment Tonight reported.

The 14-year-old Ariel Winter is currently in the temporary custody of her sister, 34-year-old Shanelle Gray. There is a trial scheduled to determine if Gray will receive permanent custody.

Ariel Winter’s mom lost custody of her daughter in October after court documents were filing claiming that Ariel “has been the victim of ongoing physical abuse (slapping, hitting, pushing) and emotional abuse (vile name calling, personal insults about minor and minor’s height, attempts to ‘sexualize’ minor, deprivation of food, etc.) for an extended period of time by the minor’s mother …”

Borlenghi is an actor who teaches at the studio operated by Shanelle Gray, The Associated Press reported.

The actor that Ariel Winter’s mom sues said he had not yet seen the lawsuit and would not say whether he posted a comment about a story from the Los Angeles Times. The story was about Workman’s allegations that Winter was having an improper relationship with an 18-year-old actor.

“This is a total falsehood,” Borlenghi stated. “The mother is grasping and clawing to find a way not to lose her money-maker, and hide the fact that she is an abusive monster.”

As Ariel Winter’s mom sues Borlenhi, Workman herself and Ariel are due back in court this week as their own proceedings continue.