Sarah Hyland Gives Rare Insight Into Surviving Her Abusive Relationship, Says Past Trauma 'Scars Her Soul'

Mar. 15, 2025

Sarah Hylandis using her voice for an important and personal cause.

While acceptingVariety’s first ever Courage Award for her work in animal welfare and domestic abuse awareness, theModern Familyalum, 33, opened up about being a survivor of domestic violence and why it was important to open up about her experience.

Sarah Hyland attends the Prabal Gurung Fashion Show after party at the Hard Rock Hotel on September 8, 2023 in New York City.Gotham/Getty

Gotham/Getty

“For thousands of years now, we didn’t talk about it," she toldVarietyof enduring domestic violence. “The community hasn’t shared enough, I believe. And I feel that if we talk about it more, more women — and men and just human beings in general in abusive relationships — will feel more comfortable to be able to talk about it with their loved ones instead of letting their abuser isolate them from everyone, which is the first thing that they do, so that you don’t have that community.”

Sarah Hyland.

“[It stays] in that abused place of your soul, where you think it’s your fault the whole time and you could have done better, you could have gotten out sooner, you could have told people,” she added.

The actress admitted there comes a point where “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," she explained. “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.”

Hyland said of overcoming the trauma, “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.”

(L) Julie Bowen and Sarah Hyland.Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

The month before the order was granted, herModern FamilycostarJulie Bowenhad intervened and helped Hyland end her relationship, which allegedly led to Prokop threatening to killher dogand burn down her house.

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In a statement given toVariety, Bowen shared how proud she was of her former costar for coming out the other side despite the trauma she’s endured.

“Without adversity, there can be no way to define one’s character and sense of self,” Bowen told the outlet. “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 thatVarietyis recognizing her strength and heart with the Courage Award.”

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go tothehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

source: people.com