Better break out those hankies now, “Modern Family” fans; it sounds like Wednesday’s episode is gonna be a big one.
Series star Sarah Hyland — who plays Haley Dunphy on the hit ABC sitcom — took to Instagram on Wednesday to strongly imply that the night’s episode would feature the much-anticipated death of one of the show’s characters.
OK — she pretty much all but said so in big, red capital letters.
In the post, Hyland shared a photo from the show, in which she’s wearing some sort of furry outfit, with Halloween decorations adorning the walls, as she’s feeding her face.
“Everyone copes with death differently. This little raccoon likes to eat when someone close dies,” Hyland wrote.
She continued, teasing, “But WHO. Dies?! Watch @abcmodernfam TONIGHT to find out!! @abcnetwork 9/8c #modernfamily.”
For what it’s worth, according to IMDb, Wednesday’s episode is titled “Good Grief.”
“It’s an epic Halloween full of costumes, tricks and treats for the Dunphy-Pritchett-Tucker clan as they deal with huge, unexpected news,” a summary of the episode reads.
“Modern Family” co-creator Christopher Lloyd revealed in September that the current episode of the series would feature the death of a “significant” character.
“We’re handling some bigger life events in this season,” Lloyd said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. “We do deal with a death, which is certainly a topic that families have to deal with, and on television, it’s not easy to do because that’s a heavy subject. But at the same time, it would seem unusual for a family not to go through it.”
Hyland’s post sparked plenty of speculation in the comments section, with more than one commenter suggesting that DeDe Pritchett, played by “Cheers” alum Shelley Long, might be the one about to take a dirt nap.
Feel free to share your own prediction in the comments section below, after examining Hyland’s post.
Ariel Winter's Evolution: From 'Modern Family' Kid to Body Positivity Icon (Photos)
Ariel Winter is best known for her role as middle sister Alex Dunphy on ABC's long-running hit comedy series "Modern Family." The show is now in its eighth season, and when Winter started on it she was just a kid. Now, the actress is 19 years old and has become an icon of body positivity, despite recent criticism online. Scroll through to watch her evolution over the years.
Getty Images
Winter is pictured here next to her co-stars and onscreen siblings, Haley Dunphy (Sarah Hyland) and Luke Dunphy (Nolan Gould). When the show started in 2009, Winter was 11 years old.
ABC
Winter poses at the KIIS FM Jingle Ball in 2010.
Getty Images
In 2010, Winter shows off her braces with a big smile.
Getty Images
This is the first selfie posted on Winter's Instagram, posted in 2012.
Ariel Winter
This picture of Winter and Gould was taken at the 2013 SAG Awards. Winter posted it on her Instagram with the caption "Love my fake little brother!!!! 🙂 #sagawards2013 #fakebrother #saglove"
Ariel Winter
Here, Winter poses with one of her "idols" Miranda Kerr at the 2013 InStyle Golden Globes afterparty.
Ariel Winter
Winter is pictured here with other "Modern Family" cast members at the Emmy Awards in 2014. The show won that year for Outstanding Comedy Series.
Getty Images
Winter posted this photo to her Instagram in 2014. "I went swimming with dolphins in Cabo! I LOVE them! Such an amazing experience," she wrote in the caption.
Ariel Winter
In 2015, Winter attended the International Women's Media Foundation Courage Awards in Beverly Hills.
Getty Images
Winter poses at her high school graduation party in June 2016. The actress will be joining the 2020 class of the University of California, Los Angeles.
Ariel Winter
Winter poses for a Twitter swimsuit selfie while vacationing with her sister in Arizona last summer.
Ariel Winter
Last year at the 22nd Annual Critics' Choice Awards, Winter sports new fringe alongside her co-stars Gould, Hyland, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson.
Getty Images
Winter was criticized in early May this year for not dressing as casually as her co-stars at a "Modern Family" screening event. "Why TF does anyone care that I didn’t dress casual like everyone else for the panel? Why do I have to be like everyone else?" she responded.
Winter received backlash for posting pictures of herself in a bikini to Instagram on Memorial Day. But the actress recently told Refinery29 of online haters, "Those people are going to be rude to me regardless of what I do, so I should just try and be happy with what I am."
Ariel Winter is best known for her role as middle sister Alex Dunphy on ABC's long-running hit comedy series "Modern Family." The show is now in its eighth season, and when Winter started on it she was just a kid. Now, the actress is 19 years old and has become an icon of body positivity, despite recent criticism online. Scroll through to watch her evolution over the years.