If you weren’t aware by this point in life, The internet is a place where people can be total assh*les a bulk of the time.
Modern Family star Ariel Winter found this out recently and is sticking up for herself. It all comes after a pic she posted on Instagram generated some seriously scummy responses from users. The 17-year-old recently tossed up a Flashback Friday snap featuring herself and her nieces. If it sounds remarkably innocent, that’s because it is.
https://instagram.com/p/-CBc7zkxUe/
A totally wholesome fun family photograph, right? Well, it didn’t take long for the slimier side of the Internet to wriggle out and suggest she’s “asking for it” by electing to wear a bikini in the photo. Sexually explicit comments rained down on the pic that leered at the minor’s decision to wear swimwear on a boat.
Those gross comments did not go unnoticed and Winter responded on Instagram. Using artist Rosea Lake’s piece “Judgments” as the post’s image, the actress expressed in the accompanying caption her frustration and disappointment with how her #FBF picture was greeted by bullies, body shamers and creeps in general:
“Who knew that an innocent photo with my nieces would turn into this? The height of a girl’s skirt or whatever she is wearing for that matter, does not imply what she is asking for. It sickens me to think at 17 years old, a photo of myself with my nieces is suggesting that I’m ‘asking for it,'”
“I typically never give power to the mean things people bravely say behind their computer screens on the Internet, but this is for the girls who are constantly bullied whether it be online or at school..
“You are not asking for anything because of what you are wearing- you are expressing yourself and don’t you ever think you deserve the negativity as the consequence to what you are wearing- YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. Celebrate you and don’t let anyone’s comments allow you to think less of yourself. Us girls have to stick together!!!!!!”
https://instagram.com/p/-CJzpyExS6/?taken-by=arielwinter
Winter’s remarks scored raves in the comments with users applauding the way she stood up for herself and for girls/women everywhere by calling out this scumbaggery.
(via People)
