Joey Lawrence refutes allegations of cheating on his estranged wife Samantha Cope and denies extramarital relationship with Melina Alves

Actor Joey Lawrence has publicly addressed the rumors surrounding his divorce from Samantha Cope and the alleged affair with his Socked in for Christmas co-star, Melina Alves. The 48-year-old actor addressed the accusations of cheating on Instagram on August 29, 2024, and explained his relationship with Alves.

Speaking with a deep sense of responsibility Joey Lawrence stated in the long Instagram post, denying any affair with Alves, he stated,

"Melina and I became close friends and I did not have a physical relationship with her."

He further added,

"At the time I met Melina, I was in the midst of a deeply troubled marriage."

---

Joey Lawrence denies infidelity, speaks on troubled marriage

Joey Lawrence’s post followed similar remarks made by Alves who equally debunked the rumoured affair through her Instagram page. On Wednesday, Alves, who is married to Edward Rider, stated that she and her husband had been sleeping in different rooms since January 2023, further denying any inappropriate relationship with Lawrence.

Lawrence elaborated on the struggles within his marriage to Cope, describing their relationship as "fraught with difficulties from the beginning" and "beyond saving." He revealed that the primary source of tension stemmed from Cope's relationship with his daughters from a previous marriage. Of Charleston, 18, and Liberty, 14, Lawrence wrote,

"They are, and always will be, my top priority,"

"The unraveling of my marriage was tied to my realization that there was 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."

Samantha Cope responded to Joey Lawrence’s Instagram post, calling his accusations "deeply troubling." In a statement to People, Cope said,

"I am confident that the truth is known to me, to Joey, and to God."

Cope, who filed for divorce last week, has requested sole physical custody of their 1-year-old daughter, Dylan, whom the couple welcomed in January 2023.

While Cope has yet to speak publicly about the split beyond her statement to People, she did post a vulnerable Instagram video, sharing her feelings of pain and devastation. The post, uploaded shortly after the divorce filing, showed Cope discussing the importance of allowing her emotions to flow freely in order to heal and move forward.

The speculations intensified when it was revealed that Alves's estranged husband, Edward Rider, also believed his partner had been unfaithful to him with Lawrence.

Melina Alves vehemently denied these claims, stating in her Instagram post that her relationship with Lawrence was nothing more than a "meaningful friendship" that naturally developed due to their shared personal circumstances. Alves accused Rider of "unjustly dragging" Lawrence into their marital issues.

As Joey Lawrence and Samantha Cope's divorce proceedings continue, the couple remains in the early stages of legal separation.

The actor is currently hosting the game show Master Minds on the Game Show Network and continues to explore new acting opportunities. Lawrence is also slated to appear in a few upcoming projects, including another holiday film, which is expected to be released later this year.