Joey Lawrence is denying the allegations that he had an affair with co-star Melina Alves while still married to wife Samantha Cope.
The 48-year-old Blossom actor took to his Instagram account to release a statement that responded to the affair rumors and also explained what led to the demise of his marriage.
The affair rumors surfaced days after Samantha filed for divorce from Joey after just two years of marriage.
So, what is he saying?
Keep reading to find out more...
"With a deep sense of responsibility, I want to respond to the recent allegations surrounding my personal life, including my divorce and the claims of an affair with Melina Alves," he began in the statement.
Joey continued, "Melina and I became close friends and I did not have a physical relationship with her while filming the movie Socked in for Christmas. These rumors are false. Our bond was based on shared experiences and an understanding of the challenges we were both facing in our personal lives."
"At the time I met Melina, I was in the midst of a deeply troubled marriage. I was clinging to hope that I could save a relationship that, in my heart, I knew was beyond saving. My short-lived marriage was fraught with difficulties from the beginning. Our differences became insurmountable," he said. "As a father, my three daughters are my world. They are, and always will be, my top priority. The unraveling of my marriage was tied to my realization that there is no way my two eldest daughters were ever going to be accepted by my wife to be part of my family. I cannot and will not compromise on the love and care that my daughters deserve, and this realization played a significant role in the breakdown of my relationship."
Joey concluded, "I understand that my life is often in the public eye, and with that comes a level of scrutiny that can be difficult to bear. However, I must emphasize that the well-being of my children is of the utmost importance. Thank you for your understanding and respect as I navigate this difficult chapter in my families life."
Melina has also released a statement in which she denied the affair.
Daughter Issues and Troubled Marriage
Cope filed for divorce from Lawrence on August 21 after two years of marriage and listed the couple’s date of separation as two months prior. One day later, TMZ reported that Alves’ estranged husband, Edward Rider, claimed in his own divorce documents that his wife had an affair with Lawrence. According to the outlet, Rider filed for divorce from Alves, 40, in July.
Alves subsequently denied having an affair with Lawrence and said that she and Rider had been separated since January 2023.
The Actress' Perspective
Alves, who said she is estranged from her ex-husband Edward Rider, wrote that it has been "distressing" to see personal issues discussed "openly and inaccurately."
"First and foremost, I want to clarify that there was no sexual relationship between Joey and myself while we were on set filming Socked in for Christmas," she wrote. "Our relationship was a meaningful friendship that developed naturally due to the many similarities in our personal situations.
"When I met Joey, I was immediately struck by his kindness, warmth, and genuine character," she continued. "We found common ground in our shared experiences, which led to a strong, supportive friendship that has been a source of strength for both of us."
Alves then shared "for context" that she and Rider have been estranged since January 2023 and "living in separate rooms."
"Our marriage had been struggling for some time, and the separation was a necessary step for both of us," she wrote.
The Brazilian actor wrote that Lawrence has been “unjustly dragged into this situation.”
“This is a deeply private matter that I never intended to become public, and I hope this clarification can help put an end to the speculation and allow both Joey and myself to move forward without further intrusion,” Alves wrote.
Lawrence responded in his own Instagram post on Aug. 29 that he "did not have a physical relationship" with Alves while filming the movie.
The Aftermath
Lawrence also claimed in his earlier statement the pair’s “short-lived marriage was fraught with difficulties from the beginning” and their “differences became insurmountable” while also denying having a physical relationship with costar Melina Alves while filming their movie Socked in for Christmas.
On Aug. 13, Cope filed for divorce from Lawrence after two years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for their split.
She requested to block the court's ability to award either side spousal support. Additionally, she is seeking full physical custody of their 19-month-old daughter Dylan while permitting Lawrence visitation at her discretion.
The actress, 37, shared a statement with PEOPLE after Lawrence claimed they had a "deeply troubled marriage" and his daughters Charleston, 18, and Liberty, 14 (both of whom he shares with ex-wife Chandie Yawn-Nelson) were not "accepted by" Cope.
"As a mother who values her daughter above all else, I find these false accusations deeply troubling," Cope shared in the statement. "I am confident that the truth is known to me, to Joey, and to God."
"I am choosing to put my focus on healing, caring for my daughter, and processing the loss of my marriage and my family," she continued.
A Difficult Chapter
“Melina and I became close friends and I did not have a physical relationship with her while filming the movie Socked in for Christmas,” he wrote. “These rumors are false. Our bond was based on shared experiences and an understanding of the challenges we were both facing in our personal lives.”
Prior to his marriage to Cope, Lawrence was married to Michelle Vella from 2002 to 2005 and to Yawn-Nelson from 2005 to 2020.
In a crowd of celebrity breakups and divorces, this one has a unique blend of drama and intrigue. The public is now left to ponder the truth behind these claims and speculate on the future of these intertwined lives.
