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Ariel Winter responds to lewd bikini photo comments

"Who knew that an innocent photo with my nieces would turn into this?" the actress wrote.

By Annie Martin
Ariel Winter at the Primetime Emmy Awards on September 20, 2015. The actress defended herself on Instagram after receiving lewd comments about her recent bikini photo. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
1 of 5 | Ariel Winter at the Primetime Emmy Awards on September 20, 2015. The actress defended herself on Instagram after receiving lewd comments about her recent bikini photo. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Ariel Winter responded to lewd comments about her recent bikini photo Friday on Instagram.

The 17-year-old actress defended herself in a lengthy post after sharing a photo of herself in a bikini with her two young nieces earlier in the day. Social media users made salacious remarks about the snapshot, saying Winter was "asking for it" by posting.

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"Who knew that an innocent photo with my nieces would turn into this?" the star wrote. "The height of a girl's skirt or whatever she is wearing for that matter, does not imply what she is asking for. It sickens me to think at 17 years old, a photo of myself with my nieces is suggesting that I'm 'asking for it.'"

"I typically never give power to the mean things people bravely say behind their computer screens on the Internet, but this is for the girls who are constantly bullied whether it be online or at school," she added. "You are not asking for anything because of what you are wearing - you are expressing yourself and don't you ever think you deserve the negativity as the consequence to what you are wearing - YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL."

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Winter had promoted positive self-image this month after social media users unfavorably compared Ariana Grande's body type to hers. She showed her support for the singer on Twitter, writing, "Women should empower one another. Celebrate each other - you're all beautiful."

Ariel Winter received lewd comments after sharing a photo of herself in a bikini with her two young nieces Friday on Instagram. Instagram/Ariel Winter

Winter is best known for playing Alex Dunphy on ABC sitcom Modern Family, which airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET. The actress underwent a breast reduction surgery over the summer after enduring physical pain and countless stares for years.

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