Ariel Winter slams 'hate tweets' she received after asking fans to donate to cousin's GoFundMe page: 'Hurtful'
In December, Sarah Hyland faced backlash after sharing a fundraising campaign to help support her uncle, who needed surgeries following a devastating car accident that killed her 14-year-old cousin. The actress called out those who criticized her for only donating $1,000 to the fund, and now her Modern Family co-star Ariel Winter is doing the same, after getting her own tase of GoFundMe drama.
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Earlier this week Winter shared a link to a GoFundMe page to help her own cousin, Tino Tsutras, get financial support. According to the page’s bio, Tsutras was rushed to the hospital last week and diagnosed with Haemophilus influenzae. While he is no longer in the ICU, he remains under observation and is “still in pain.”
“Obviously, with this happening, Tino will be out of work for sometime until he is fully diagnosed and able to physically return to the workforce,” the GoFundMe page reads. “In an effort to help with his living expenses and other needed items, while he is unable to work, let’s come together as family and friends to help our dear friend not have to worry about money as he tries to recover!”
Winter encouraged fans who could to donate and shared photos of herself with Tsutras.
💔 this is my cousin Tino. If you can, please consider donating to his recovery fund. Anything helps. I love him so much 💔https://t.co/8Sx6R08RAr
— Ariel Winter (@arielwinter1) April 9, 2019
https://t.co/8Sx6R08RAr pic.twitter.com/mTLeEaE8vC
— Ariel Winter (@arielwinter1) April 9, 2019
But the plea caused some fans to question why the star wasn’t footing the bill herself.
I love when people who are in the 1% as us to donate. His 15k goal compared to what you make seems so small. Why not pick up the tab.
— folarin (@folarin) April 9, 2019
Surely you’re able to throw some if not all of the $15k in.
— Ben (@Ben_fl85) April 9, 2019
Winter fired back at one “s****y response,” explaining that she was simply sharing the GoFundMe page out of support. She also intimated that she had offered financial assistance.
Thanks for your shitty response to my sick cousin. What makes you think I’m not? Love assumptions! BTW— if someone isn’t able to donate, then I absolutely wouldn’t want them to. His friend created the gofundme so I will of course share for my cousin like anyone else would. ?🏼
— Ariel Winter (@arielwinter1) April 9, 2019
The backlash clearly upset the 21-year-old, prompting her to call out the “hate tweets” she’s received.
I’m shocked at how many people have sent me hate tweets about my cousin instead of a simple, kind message showing him some love and support. Nothing else needed to be done aside from that. I re-posted a gofundme that my cousin’s friend made just as anyone else would. Hurtful.
— Ariel Winter (@arielwinter1) April 9, 2019
She also retweeted this comment from a supportive fan.
knowing you, when you were asked you to share the link because of your platform + following OF COURSE, you shared.Knowing your heart, you are doing many things for Tino behind the scenes. Those who use a painful time in your life to put you down are weak themselves. Love&Prayers
— Davina Adjani (@DavinaAdjani) April 10, 2019
“Unfortunately people just assume that because you are a well-paid star that you can afford to pay for everything for any member of your family, but I’m probably guessing that your extended family didn’t want to bother you that way,” another fan tweeted. “Hope he gets better soon.”
Despite the criticism, the fundraiser has exceeded its $15,000 goal, collecting more than $19,000 in donations — including a $2,500 contribution from Hyland.
In other Winter news, the actress has opened up about her mental health and weight loss in an Instagram Stories Q&A session, explaining that her new anti-depressants “instantly made me drop all of the weight I couldn’t lose before just by giving me back a metabolism.”
“I want to gain a few pounds of muscle and get healthier,” she added. “Also want my butt back.”
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