Modern family star: starved and abused?

1. This week brought the sad news that 14-year-old Modern Family star Ariel Winter was removed from her mother’s home overnight amid allegations of emotional and physical abuse. And that her mother may or may not have been starving her.

According to US media, Ariel’s mother Crystal Workman has been ordered to stay 100 yards away from Ariel at all times. Ariel (who plays Alex Dunphy in the comedy series) has been placed under the temporary guardianship of her older sister Shanelle, who is now seeking permanent guardianship over her sibling.

But just like a good hair mousse, the plot thickens. Ariel’s mother then spoke to E! Online, and fired back at the allegations.

She has claimed that her daughter only filed the court documents after being caught in bed with her 18-year-old boyfriend, Disney star Cameron Palatas. Ariel’s mother has also denied the allegations of abuse, saying:  “I love my daughter very much. I would never abuse her in any way.”

So why is Ariel staying with her sister? Her mother Crystal thinks that Shanelle’s intentions have nothing to do with love and concern for Ariel’s wellbeing and everything to do with the pay rise that the cast Modern Family recently received, claiming Shanelle has only seen Ariel ‘maybe 20 times” before in her life.

Reports later in the week then suggested the actress’ mother Crystal Workman “starved her” on the set of Modern Family.

2. The Elmo sex scandal. It’s alright, it’s alright, Elmo himself isn’t involved in a sex scandal. That would be odd. Because he is a puppet. But his puppeteer, 52-year-old Kevin Clash, was accused earlier in the week of having a sexual relationship with an underage boy.

Representatives for Sesame Street said in a statement: “In June of this year, Sesame Workshop received a communication from a then 23-year-old man who alleged that he had a relationship beginning when he was 16 years old with Kevin Clash.

Clash has admitted having a sexual relationship with the accuser but said it began when the accuser was an adult. “It was between two consenting adults and I am deeply saddened that he is trying to make it into something it was not,” he said. Less than one day after this story broke in the media, his accuser recanted his story and acknowledged that “his sexual relationship with Mr. Clash was an adult consensual relationship.”

3. Remember this if you’re ever interviewing Melissa George: don’t ask her any questions about Home and Away.

The Australian actress (who is now a US citizen) had a meltdown on Channel 7’s The Morning Show last week when they played a clip of her from her time on Home & Away. You can’t see what went on behind the scenes but watch how frosty Melissa George is when they come back from the Home & Away clip. Awkward.

In a subsequent interview, Melissa went into surprising detail about why she was reportedly “offended” when The Morning Show’s Larry and Kylie mentioned H&A and why she threatened to walk out:

“I don’t need credibility from my country any more, I just need them all to be quiet,” she said. “If they have nothing intelligent to say, please don’t speak to me any more. I’d rather be having a croissant and an espresso in Paris or walking my French bulldog in New York City.

“I’ve never spoken out about it because I have to be the loyal good Aussie, who goes away and comes home.

“But I’m a really hard-working woman and people have to respect me for what I’ve done … my next call will be to Home And Away to ask them to pay me because nobody does more promotion for that f … ing show than me.”

The public backlash following these remarks was severe. And in an unfortunate turn of events, Melissa’s US TV show was cancelled. And someone hacked Melissa’s Wikipedia page on Thursday and changed the names of some of the characters she’s previously played to “Angel”.

4. That’s right, the self proclaimed King of the World, Romeo by name and by nature, Leonardo DiCaprio might just have a new romantic interest: and she’s one of us.

Twenty-two-year-old former Neighbours star Margot Robbie – who played Donna Freedman for anyone who watches Neighbours (does anyone watch Neighbours?) – is rumoured to be dating Leonardo DiCaprio.

The pair starred together in Wolf of Wall Street and Margot was spotted at Leonardo’s 38th birthday party this week.

And because this story comes via Hollywood where there is no such thing as rumour – no, no, it’s ALL true we swear, we talked to the star’s publicist’s uncle’s dog and he says it definitely happened – that must mean they’re in love. True love.

In all seriousness, this is mostly rumour for now but if it is true? We wish the couple good times.

5. Offspring star Asher Keddie is in love again and she’s talking about it. The 38-year-old actress has attended the GQ Man of the Year Awards with well-known artist Vincent Fantauzzo.

Keddie, who broke up with her husband of five years Jay Bowen last year, met the Fantauzzo when he painted her portrait. (A portrait. Like with paint, and not the computer version).

Fantauzzo has also painted celebrities such as Heath Ledger and Matt Moran (who introduced him to Keddie). “We knew next to nothing about each other to begin with,” Keddie said. “I knew he was an artist and I knew of his work. But that was it. He didn’t know who I was. I don’t think he had seen any of my shows.” Keddie’s new partner split with his wife last year. They have a 2 year old son, Luca.

6. Tell us: Would you wear it?