Sarah Hyland thanked her for it Modern family Supporting TV mum Julie Bowen amid previous abusive relationship in emotional speech about domestic violence.

Hyland was honored diversityOn Thursday, she received the inaugural Courage Award at the Power of Women event in Los Angeles for her advocacy on behalf of survivors of domestic violence and her work on animal welfare. On stage to accept the award after Bowen introduced it, an overwhelmed Hyland spoke about the courage to leave an abusive relationship.

“I didn’t think it would be this emotional,” Hyland began, telling Bowen as she stood at the edge of the stage, “I love you.”

Sign in Entertainment Weekly Free daily newsletter with breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars and more.

“October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and while it’s not the easiest topic to talk about, it’s of the utmost importance to us,” Hyland continued. “I have spoken openly about my experiences as a survivor and want to support others in the way that Julie and all of my loved ones have done for me.”

“Accepting this award for courage made me think about what this word means to me,” Hyland added. “It takes courage to wake up every morning and face the world knowing that people may have no idea what you are going through. It’s all too easy to feel isolated and misunderstood, no matter how strong you are.”

Hyland spoke about Purina’s work and the brand’s Purple Leash Project, which creates safe spaces for domestic violence survivors and their pets. She concluded her speech by thanking the audience “for listening and not turning away,” and also thanked her “TV mom,” Bowen, and her real mom.

In 2014, Hyland filed a restraining order against his former ex-boyfriend Matthew Prokop, an actor who also appeared in an episode of Modern family. Hyland accused Prokop of choking her and becoming hostile, including threatening to burn down her house, after she broke off the relationship. Bowen was reportedly mentioned in the documents as Hyland detailed that she had asked her on-screen mother for help to “peacefully end the relationship.”

Bowen addressed the headlines surrounding her help earlier this year, sharing in a podcast interview that she feels maternal towards Hyland and the other children on screen. “I was a responsible adult who happened to be there at the right time,” Bowen said on the website Thin, confidential, for him and her. “But I’m sure another responsible adult would have done exactly the same thing. I just love her.”

The duo played mother and daughter on the Emmy-winning sitcom Modern familyThe focus is on the Pritchett clan, led by patriarch Jay (Ed O’Neill) and his much younger second wife Gloria (Sofia Vergara). The series ran for eleven seasons on ABC and ended in 2020. The cast – most of whom recently reunited at this year’s SAG Awards – have remained close since the series ended. Hyland’s TV family attended her wedding to Wells Adams in 2022, where her uncle Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who appeared on TV, officiated the ceremony.

Watch Hyland’s speech in full above.