Ariel Winter's mother has threatened to sue a Hollywood publicist over an alleged plot to create a naked picture scandal. The Modern Family star's mother Chrisoula "Chrystal" Workman - who is currently not the 14-year-old actress's legal guardian after she was removed for her care more than two months ago amid accusations of abuse - claims public relations expert Jonathan Hay fabricated a story about her trying to leak naked pictures of her eldest daughter Shanelle Workman, 34, who was awarded temporary custody of Ariel.

According to gossip website TMZ.com, Chrisoula has sent a cease and desist letter to the publicist despite admitting she sent him scantily clad pictures of Shanelle. The letter reportedly warns Jonathan to stop "making false and defamatory statements" because, "Ms. Workman never represented to Mr. Hay that nude pictures existed of her daughter Shanelle." However, the letter later admits that Chrisoula admits sending him two revealing pictures of Shanelle, but she says she found them on the Internet and they were not private because they were taken at a cast party for One Life To Live - which Shanelle once appeared in - by a professional photographer.