Ariel Winter ‘starving for attention’, says estranged mum

ARIEL Winter’s estranged mum says among her daughter’s torrent of revealing social media posts, there was one that made her burst into tears.

ARIEL Winter’s estranged mother wants to leave the past behind and make amends with her daughter.

Crystal Workman told Inside Edition she feels like the Modern Family actress is “starving for attention” and her recent actions have been a “cry for help.”

“I just want to see her have respect for herself and have some class,” Workman said about photographs showing Winter in revealing outfits. “That photo in particular [pictured below, a photo Ariel posted to her Instagram account in April last year], where her leg is raised and she’s holding a martini glass, I saw it and all I could do was cry and feel bad for her.”

“Ariel is starving for attention. I feel that this is a cry for help from my child,” Workman said.

Ariel Winter at the Emmy Awards this week Picture: Getty Images/AFP

The mother-daughter duo’s relationship has been strained, to say the least. Winter, 19, opened up about her difficult childhood to The Hollywood Reporter last week, saying Workman forced her to dress in overly-sexy outfits and controlled what she ate.

“People thought I was 24 when I was 12. If there was going to be a nude scene when I was that age, my mother would have a thousand per cent said yes,” Winter said.

The actress became an emancipated minor at 15 and Workman has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Winter's estranged mum Crystal Workman. Picture: Inside Edition

“It’s time to fix your relationship with your mum,” Workman said. “Every girl needs her mum and every mum needs her daughter.”

On Tuesday, Winter defended her wardrobe choices and fired back at people who accused the actress of blaming her scandalous outfits on her mother.

“I’d also like to address the tweets I get saying ‘you accused your mother of sexualising you yet you’re a whore.’ I was a CHILD being dressed like I was 24. I was 8-13 years old. I wasn’t an ADULT as I am now,” Winter said in an Instagram post. “As you mature at 16, 17, 18, you further develop your own identity and can make decisions for yourself,” she wrote. “As a child, you do as you’re told regardless of what is good for you. I’m an ADULT now, who can make my own choices and have my own identity.”

Winter has become just as famous for her revealing social media antics — including this ‘Memorial Day tribute’ as for her acting. Picture: Instagram

“And just because I DECIDE to show my body occasionally doesn’t mean I’m unintelligent or that I’m talentless or that I have no self-respect,” she said. “I have EXTREME respect for myself, I HAVE talent and I AM intelligent. We need to move on from this stigma that women who are comfortable with their bodies and their sexuality are ‘dumb sluts.’”

This story originally appeared on Fox News and is republished with permission.