Julie Bowen recently appeared on the “90210MG” podcast and called out the press for pitting her and Sofía Vergara against one another during their tenure on “ Modern Family .” Both actors were series regulars on the ABC sitcom for its entire 11-season run from 2009 to 2020. Bowen won two Emmys for supporting actress in a comedy series thanks to her performance as Claire Dunphy.

“I felt it on ‘Modern Family.’ The press kept trying to make me and Sofía sort of Betty and Veronica,” Bowen said about the invented rivalry the tabloids created between the “Modern Family” co-stars, adding that the press “were determined to pit us against each other, like we hated each other.”

“There’s this scarcity mindset that only one woman can be happy at a time,” Bowen added. “I was like, ‘Oh no, I adore Sofía. I appreciate how different we are. She is funny and humble and bold, and she cherishes life, and she enjoys dancing and eating cake and all these things.’”

While the press tried to drive a wedge between the two actresses, Bowen said she was actually learning "so much" from just being around Vergara on the "Modern Family" set about "what it means to be a truly powerful, authentic woman." She "found it really disappointing that the press perpetuated that narrative," not that Bowen herself ever "fed into that."

"That's so crazy, that's just so ridiculous," Bowen recalled thinking when she'd see tabloid stories claiming a feud between her and Vergara. For years, some media outlets tried to fuel rumors that Bowen was envious of Vergara's financial success and acted coldly towards her on set. None of it was ever true, as the two remain close friends to this day.

As part of a recent Variety cover story , Vergara shared that Bowen sent her a video of herself casting a ballot for the Colombian actress on this year’s Emmys ballot as Vergara is nominated for her role in “Griselda.” Many find it surprising that Vergara did not receive at least one Emmy for portraying Gloria on “Modern Family,” and she often uses that as comedic material with Bowen.

"I always tell Julie Bowen," Vergara joked. "I was nominated four times. Julie was also nominated, and I always tease her, 'One of those is mine, but I'm just letting you keep it in your house.'"

Listen to Bowen's full interview on the “90210MG” podcast here .