Modern Family star Ariel Winter goes undercover as 12-year-old for scary sting operation

“Modern Family” star Ariel Winter opened up about her harrowing experience posing as a preteen girl to help catch a child sexual predator. The 27-year-old actress, who played Alex Dunphy on the hit sitcom “Modern Family” from 2009 to 2020, joined forces with the nonprofit Safe from Online Sex Abuse (SOSA) for an undercover sting operation that was featured in the true crime docuseries “SOSA Undercover.” In the premiere episode, Winter pretended to be a 12-year-old girl to entice a 31-year-old predator in Oklahoma City.During an interview with the Daily Mail published Friday, Winter explained how she felt about serving as a decoy in the operation.“It’s definitely cathartic to be teaming with SOSA, knowing that I can make a difference,” Winter said.“It can be scary at times pretending to be 12 and talking to older men, but it’s validating to put away predators that have been harming children,” she continued. “Growing up in the entertainment industry, I’ve been the girl we are trying to save,” Winter added.

“It’s vital to me to help protect young women from the experiences I endured in my own life.”Winter donned a blonde wig with bangs to play the part of the fake 12-year-old.In one scene, Winter was seen sitting on a bed in a room that was staged to look like a child’s bedroom.

The actress adopted a child-like voice as she FaceTimed the predator, whom she referred to as “Daddy.”“It can be scary at times pretending to be 12 and talking to older men, but it’s validating to put away predators that have been harming children,” she continued. “Growing up in the entertainment industry, I’ve been the girl we are trying to save,” Winter added.“It’s vital to me to help protect young women from the experiences I endured in my own life.”Winter donned a blonde wig with bangs to play the part of the fake 12-year-old.

In one scene, Winter was seen sitting on a bed in a room that was staged to look like a ch...