One of the more shocking stories of the past few months (although nothing is more horrifying than the Mama June situation) was the news that Modern Family actress Sarah Hyland, 23, was in an abusive relationship for five years. In her request for a restraining order against her former live-in boyfriend, Matthew Prokop, Hyland detailed a pattern of abuse which started with verbal and emotional abuse and escalated to physical abuse. Hyland sought help from her Modern Family costars to break off the relationship, and it’s good that she had friends around her because Prokop threatened to kill himself, set fire to her home, and harm her dog. He did this in front of witnesses who gave statements on Hyland’s behalf.
Hyland eventually obtained a three year restraining order against Prokop. She also was on the cover of US Magazine at the time, which had some insider-type details of her scary relationship. The cover stories on US are usually publicist supplied, so it’s possible that she gave them some information. Until now Hyland hasn’t spoken publicly about the abuse she endured, though. In an interview with Meredith Vieira, Hyland made a brief kind of vague statement that was very classy. She just quoted a poem, made a few platitudes about going through hard times, and moved on. She didn’t mention her a-hole ex at all. Here’s what she said, and you can see a video below.
“There are two quotes that I want to say,” Hyland, 23, said on Vieira’s daytime talk show without directly referencing her former boyfriend of five years. “One is a Dylan Thomas poem: ‘Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light,’ which is one of my favorite poems. It just strikes a chord in me; and also Robert Frost: ‘The only way out is through.'”
Hyland added: “People have to go through things in order to become the person they are today, and that’s that.”
Boom done. Of course I would have liked to hear more, it would make my job easier as a gossip, but I admire how she handled that. She talked about going through some crap but she quoted famous poets and said she’s over it, basically. She also had her sweet dog by her side. I can’t believe that creeper would try to harm that beautiful dog. Only the lowest of the low hurt harmless animals.
This reminds me that the Halloween episode of Modern Family airs tonight! I don’t watch all the new episodes but I’m definitely taping this one.
Here’s the video:
Here’s Hyland at an event for the ASPCA last week. She’s partnered with Swiffer and the ASPCA to help advocate for dog adoption. Her white dog’s name is Barkley. Look at how she’s holding that other dog! It’s like she doesn’t want to make her dog jealous.
Photo credit: WENN.com and NBC screencaps
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