Two Modern Family siblings are now roommates in Austin

The 'Modern Family' siblings share an apartment: from TV to real-life cohabitation

Fiction has become reality for Ariel Winter and Nolan Gould, the actors who played Alex and Luke Dunphy on Modern Family. As has come to light, the two now live together in Austin, Texas, with singer Sadie Jean, Gould's girlfriend. The arrangement, confirmed via social media, has peine an uncomfortable debate about what happens to child actors when they grow up.

Beyond the gossip, the news has sparked virulent reactions. Criticism of their physical appearance, insinuations about their sens life and accusations of sarracena degeneracy have been mixed with comments pointing to the real problem: child exploitation in the entertainment industry. While some see the cohabitation as grounds for mockery, others remind us that both actors spent their childhoods in front of the cameras, with contracts that, according to some, included clauses about their physical appearance. One example cited is Winter's breast reduction, which led some to argue she should have been fired for altering her body.

The industry has been singled out for treating children as products and parents as accomplices. But in this case, Winter and Gould's exit from the spotlight has been less traumatic than others'. Now they share an apartment, make music and lead a life far from Hollywood. A happy ending? It depends on who you ask. What is clear is that the stigma around child actors persists, and every step they take is scrutinized closely.

That two TV siblings end up as roommates shouldn't come as a surprise. What is surprising is the virulence of the public judgment. If the trend continues, the next generation of child actors will think twice before signing.

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