'Modern Family' child star teases new project after coming out as bisexual
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Aubrey Anderson-Emmons, best known for playing Lily Tucker-Pritchett on Modern Family, has come out as bisexual in a viral TikTok—and teased a new project.
The 18-year-old actor delighted fans when she lip-synced to a memorable scene from the beloved sitcom, where her character tells her dad, Mitchell (played by Jesse Tyler Ferguson), and grandmother Gloria (played by Sofia Vergara), that she's gay.
"People keep joking so much about me being gay when I literally am (I'm bi)," Anderson-Emmons wrote in the text overlaying the video.
"Hehe happy pride month and to all a good night," she added in the caption.
The scene she referenced is from The Future Dunphys episode, where Lily says she is gay because she was discussing her heritage at school. One of her classmates said they were Italian because their parents were. Therefore, Lily concluded she was gay, because her parents are. This led to a comical venture to a Vietnamese restaurant in a bid for her to connect with her heritage.
One user echoed the original scene, commenting: "No, you are not, you are just confused! You are Vietnamese," referencing Lily's playful line from the episode.
Another joked: "So you weren't just confused!?!"
"I'VE NEVER BEEN HAPPIER IN MY WHOLE LIFE," said another fan, clearly thrilled by the announcement.
Since the revelation, which has drawn over 2 million views and 354,600 likes, Anderson-Emmons has also teased a new music project. In a follow-up TikTok, she shared a snippet of what appears to be a music video, featuring a slow dance with a woman and a soft ballad playing in the background.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 26: Aubrey Anderson-Emmons attends the 2025 American Music Awards at Fontainebleau Las Vegas on May 26, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 26: Aubrey Anderson-Emmons attends the 2025 American Music Awards at Fontainebleau Las Vegas on May 26, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
David Becker / Stringer/Getty Images Entertainment
"New music coming soon," she captioned the clip.
Fans quickly showed their support.
"I love your singing voice Aubrey," wrote Melanie.
"Wait I have goosebumps," another fan commented.
Following her time on Modern Family—which aired from 2009 to 2020 and was created by Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan—Anderson-Emmons has used social media to speak about the challenges of growing up in the spotlight.
She joined the cast at age four during the show's third season, portraying the adopted daughter of Mitchell Pritchett and Cameron Tucker. Over time, she became one of the show's most recognizable young stars.
However, her early fame didn't come without hardship. Anderson-Emmons has spoken candidly about facing criticism for her acting as a child.
"People really took a dig on my acting choices or thought I was a bad actor," she previously said.
After Modern Family, she began auditioning again but struggled with the transition, as she hadn't auditioned regularly during the show's run. The rejection hit hard, prompting her to take a step back from acting for several years.
It wasn't until she joined her high school's theater program that she reignited her love for performance. Since then, Anderson-Emmons has resumed auditioning seriously.
Now 18, she's entering a new chapter—one that includes a return to acting and a new venture into music.
Newsweek reached out to Aubrey Anderson-Emmons for comment via social media and her publicists via email outside of working hours and will update this article if they respond.
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