Ariel Winter's mother Chrystal Workman claims she was physically attacked and threatened by the young actress.

The mother of the 14-year-old Modern Family star - who is involved in a bitter guardianship battle after Ariel was removed from her custody last month and temporarily placed in her other daughter Shanelle Workman's care - hit back in court today and insisted Ariel threatened to make her pay and made up accusations of abuse after she banned her from dating her then boyfriend Cameron Palatas (18), according to gossip website TMZ.com.

"She is an actress so I'm sure she can cry at the drop of a hat," Chrystal reportedly said to the judge.

But lawyers for Ariel's older sister Shanelle told the Los Angeles court, "The child [Ariel] is, apparently, struck repeatedly, slapped, hit, pushed, not so as to leave marks. Mother is smart enough not to do that." The legal team also confirmed earlier reports that Chrystal was "a terror on the set of Modern Family and that the producer and others there have expressed grave concern." They also claimed Chrystal "sexualizes the child," which led him to produce a photograph of Ariel "dressed up to show off her breasts and otherwise."

Reports accusing Chrystal of micromanaging Ariel's diet making her stick to an extreme meal plan consisting of egg whites and raw vegetables and also berated her for her physical appearance constantly, criticizing her ears for being too big and calling her ugly, were also confirmed by Shanelle's lawyer. Shanelle, who was in court, told the judge Chrystal also physically abused her 20 years ago, but Chrystal tried to discredit her by claiming her older daughter previously hung around with drug dealers and gangs.