Sarah Hyland, 33, has opened up about her abusive past relationship with Geek Charming co-star Matthew Prokop. In a Variety article that came out on October 24, the Modern Family alum reflected on two issues she holds dear: animal welfare and domestic violence. Hyland accepted Variety's Courage Award at the Power of Women gala in L.A. on October 24.
The actress, who dated Prokop for four years, said in her acceptance speech:
"Accepting this award for courage has made me think about what that word means to me. 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.”
Sarah Hyland says she wouldn't be here without her dog, doesn't know if she'll ever be completely "healed"
Sarah Hyland and Matthew Prokop's relationship came crashing down a decade ago, when the former hit her co-star with a restraining order. She claimed that he was verbally and physically abusive to her. At one point, she alleged, he choked her and threatened to set her house on fire.
Notably, the order also covered their dog, given that Prokop would use him to "manipulate" her. She said,
"A lot of people who have been in an abusive relationship have had pets. I wouldn’t have been able to get through a lot of times without my dog. But then, at the same time … animals can be used as a manipulation and used as tactic as well. Their lives are then, therefore, put on the line [to] try to hurt someone through an animal.”
She continued, reflecting on how modern-day society would fare far better if everyone, men, women and "just human beings in general in abusive relationships," were able to open up about what they were enduring to their loved ones "instead of letting their abuser isolate them from everyone."
Sarah Hyland went on, pointing out that that's the first thing abusers do, so the victims are left without a community. She also stressed on the importance of "talking about it" and how in turn, it facilitates being able to help those in need.
In speaking about the PTSD from such experiences, Sarah Hyland shared that it never quite goes away. Instead, it lingers on in an "abused place of your soul," the very place that prompts victims to blame themselves for the whole ordeal, and for not speaking up about it sooner.
“It’s almost like you don’t wanna talk about it anymore. You want it to be done, and that’s that. I completely understand the dissociation pattern of it. I am very much guilty about it myself… until something happens where I’m triggered, and I didn’t realize that part of myself had been healed. I don’t know if that part [of] any woman will ever be fully healed from that. It’s something that kind of scars her soul a little bit. It’s more so putting love towards that scar instead of hating it and ignoring it.”
Sarah Hyland's on-screen mom, Julie Bowen, gushed about how far the actress has come:
“Without adversity, there can be no way to define one’s character and sense of self. Sarah’s path has forced her, from a very early age, to take on challenges — both physical and emotional. She has met each moment with determination, grace, and vulnerability. I’m so proud that Variety is recognizing her strength and heart with the Courage Award.”
Sarah Hyland, now married to Wells Adams, has been joining forces with animal rights activist RedRover for their Purple Leash Project, aimed at restructuring DV shelters to become more “pet-friendly.”
In her speech, she stressed the fact that a good chunk of DV survivors refrain from leaving because they'd have to leave their pets behind.
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Furthermore, according to the outlet, only about 20% of such shelters also take in animals. The Purple Lease Project aims to deconstruct these norms and allow survivors to bring their beloved pets with them, effectively putting an end to the "impossible choice" many have to make "between their safety and the safety of their pets.”
As for Matthew Prokop, the former Disney star has been hit with a litany of domestic violence allegations over the years. Just this May, he was arrested for allegedly pushing his girlfriend into an object, after which, he slammed her head into the same, TMZ reported.
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