Ariel Winter and Luke Benward Split After Nearly 6 Years of Dating
Ariel Winterand Luke Benward have called it quits after almost six years together.
Peoplereported on Thursday, May 14, that Winter, 28, and Benward, 31, quietly split in August 2025.
Taking to the comments section of an Instagram post shared by People about the news, Winter confirmed the breakup and added that the pair still have an amicable relationship despite going their separate ways.
"He's still one of my best friends, a great human being and a great pup coparent," she wrote. "Just because sometimes people aren't meant to be doesn't mean you don't still appreciate the time spent and retain the friendship you shared … still a big luke fan over here!!!"
Us Weekly has reached out to Winter and Benward's respective spokespersons for comment.
The Modern Family alum and Benward were first romantically linked in 2019, transitioning their once-platonic bond.
"You start with the attraction, and then you get the connection, and then you're like, ‘OK, can I be friends with this person? Do I like this person?'" Benward exclusively told Us Weeklyin June 2025. "We were already way past that. [Then] COVID hit, and it was just like, let's dive in headfirst and see how this goes. And it went great."
At the time, Winter gushed that she was proud her relationship had withstood a pandemic lockdown.
"We know a lot of COVID divorces, COVID babies, [but] not many COVID-strong relationships, but we're happy to be one," she quipped. "We're proud to represent for the COVID-strong relationships."
Winter and Benward also shared the screen in last year's Don't Log Off, telling Us that they were hopeful to have even more collaborations down the line.
"Well, we have obviously what you would expect a relationship to unfold as planned in the next five years," the former Disney Channel star told Us. "And then, this is the start of the journey for us of producing together, which we've really enjoyed. We have this movie, and then we did a short that went really well."
He added, "We just worked really well together. We compliment each other well professionally. We have a cooking show that we're putting together that we're going to be pitching."
Benward further shared how he was a fan of Winter's solo Hollywood endeavors.
"She won't let me watch Modern Family with her. But sometimes I turn it on just to mess with her," he quipped, referring to Winter's role as daughter Alex Dunphy on the long-running sitcom. "I just love [Alex's dad] Phil Dunphy. He never misses."
Winter, for her part, clarified that she never banned Benward from watching Modern Family - just without her. Even so, the duo had long shared relationship highlights via social media.
"Happy 26th to the most special man that gives me alllllllll the feels allllllllllll the time. I love you. I am beyond grateful for you," Winter wrote via Instagram in 2021. "I feel incredibly lucky to spend each day together enjoying the great days and working through the tough days that we can't go at alone. You've been my safe space and guiding light through all of the tough days this past year - thankful doesn't even begin to describe how I feel. Obviously you are ridiculously handsome, but how ridiculously caring, smart, funny, empathetic, kind, talented and devoted you are to who and what you love is the most attractive."
Winter previously dated Levi Meaden for three years before their 2019 breakup.
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This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 7:51 PM.