Actors Joey Lawrence and Melina Alves are responding to rumors of an affair that allegedly happened while they were filming their upcoming holiday movie, Socked in for Christmas.
Alves posted an Instagram statement on August 28, 2024, responding to the “recent allegations” about her relationship with Lawrence.
According to court documents, this comes after Lawrence's wife of two years, Samantha Cope, filed for divorce in Los Angeles on August 13, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple married in 2022.
Shortly after Alves' statement, Lawrence shared his own Instagram post denying reports of an affair.
Alves says she's estranged from her ex-husband Edward Rider and expressed that it's been “distressing” to see personal matters 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 revealed “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 stated that Lawrence has been “unfairly 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 August 29, stating that he “did not have a physical relationship” with Alves during the movie's filming.
“These rumors are false,” he wrote. “Our bond was based on shared experiences and an understanding of the challenges we were both facing in our personal lives.”
Lawrence revealed that he was in “a deeply troubled marriage” with many problems when he met Alves.
The father of three also mentioned that his marriage's breakdown was linked to the fact that there was “no way” his two older daughters from his previous marriage with Chandie Yawn-Nelson “were ever going to be accepted” by Cope into their 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,” he wrote.
Lawrence and Alves co-star in the upcoming holiday film Socked in for Christmas, which was shot in April, as shown in Alves' Instagram posts.
Cope's divorce filing states her separation from Lawrence occurred on June 7, 2024. She's seeking joint legal custody and full physical custody of their 1-year-old daughter, Dylan, until she turns 3. Dylan was born in January 2023.
LINK LOVE
SL RECOMMENDS
Like most websites, Socialite Life uses affiliate links where available, which means we earn a little commission if you click through and buy something. Also, as Amazon Influencers, we earn from qualifying purchases.
TRENDING ON SL
Last update on 2024-08-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
