Ariel Winter and her boyfriend, Luke Benward, have been going strong since 2019.
Less than one month after Winter and Benward were spotted at the West Hollywood restaurant Delilah together, a source told Us Weekly in January 2020 that the pair were “definitely dating.”
“Ariel is really happy with Luke and thinks he is a great match for her,” the insider revealed. “She loves his energy and charisma and feels very comfortable around him. Ariel is trying to keep her relationship with Luke somewhat private and isn’t telling a ton of people that they’re dating, but they are.”
More than one year later, Winter couldn’t help but gush about Benward — and how their longtime friendship transitioned into something more.
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“Honestly, it’s been the best thing ever now, but it was pretty bizarre at first because that was never something that I expected at all,” she explained to Entertainment Tonight in July 2021. “It’s been the biggest blessing for me.”
The couple have continued to support each other throughout the years including Benward presenting Winter with the Legacy Award at the Legacy Ball in October 2024.
“She is gorgeous. She is funny. She is smart. She is talented. And she is a true leader,” he gushed before handing her the trophy.
Keep scrolling to learn more about Winter and Benward’s relationship:
December 2019
Two months after her split from Levi Meaden, Winter was spotted at the West Hollywood restaurant Delilah, per photos by E! News. According to the site, Winter had just attended Benward’s reading of Really Really at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute.
January 2020
An insider confirmed to Us that the couple were “definitely dating” and that Winter is “really happy with Luke and thinks he is a great match for her.”
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“She loves his energy and charisma and feels very comfortable around him,” the source explained, noting that she was trying to keep her relationship with Benward “somewhat private.”
That same month, Winter and Benward “could not keep their hands off each other” at the 2020 Spotify Best New Artist party in West Hollywood.
“His hands were on her hips as she swayed to Billie Eilish’s hits, and as Eilish performed her slow songs, Luke buried his face in Ariel’s hair,” an eyewitness told Us, adding that after the performance they “engaged in an intense makeout session, only interrupting their kissing to sing along to the recorded version of [Eilish’s song] ‘Bad Guy.’”
July 2021
Winter couldn’t help but gush over Benward, noting that “it’s been the biggest blessing” that their friendship blossomed into a relationship.
“He is amazing. He is definitely my safe space,” she told Entertainment Tonight in July 2021. “We’ve been able to grow together and not just be in a relationship, but we’re partners in business. We’re partners. He’s my best friend. He’s my boyfriend, so it’s really beautiful to be able to get to that place with somebody and to have the friendship foundation first and then to be able to grow into everything, is really, really beautiful.”
May 2022
Winter took to social media to share a sweet Instagram post for Benward’s 27th birthday.
Luke Benward Showers Girlfriend Ariel Winter With Love on Her 22nd Birthday: ‘You’re a Dream’
“Happy birthday my love! 27 looks good on you 😍,” she wrote alongside several photos of the duo. “You are such a wonderful man and I am beyond grateful we get to do life together. So excited for this new chapter with you poots 🥹❤️Thank you for being the extra special man + dog dad you are. We love you more than you know! 🎶lucky to be in love with my best friend🎶💞.”
January 2023
Benward shared a photo of Winter kissing his cheek on their three year anniversary.
“Happy 3 years my beautiful bunny ❤️,” he captioned the Instagram picture.
April 2024
After social media users posted a TikTok video that claimed Benward was “controlling” to Winter, the Modern Family alum decided to set the record straight.
“Guys please help,” she sarcastically replied in the comment section. “He’s forcing me on OnlyFans so he can be my manager and he doesn’t let me out of the house!!! SOS!!!! Don’t believe everything you see on [TikTok], especially rumors like that. 🙂 He’s a great man, and if he wasn’t, the dogs would take his ass outside.”
October 2024
Benward, along with Winter’s Modern Family costar Nolan Gould, presented Winter with the Legacy Award at the Legacy Ball.
Costars Reunited Through the Years
May 2025
Winter shared a cute Instagram post for Benward’s 30th birthday.
“Entering this new decade/chapter of your life love you even more and so excited to see what it brings you 🤍,” she wrote alongside a carousel of pictures of the couple. “Happy 30th birthday to the best, most handsome dog dad ever and the poot of my life 🫶🏻 We love you!!!!! My man my man my man my MANNNNNNN 😍.”
Benward replied in the comments section, “I love my buns.”
