Joey Lawrence Reportedly Had Affair With Co-Star Before Divorce From Wife

More details are emerging about why Joey Lawrence and his wife, Samantha Cope , are getting a divorce.

Cope, 37, filed for divorce on August 13, citing irreconcilable differences. Now a source has revealed to People that the couple is splitting because Lawrence, 48, was having an affair with Melina Alves , his costar in the upcoming film Socked In For Christmas .

"Joey met Melina Alves on the set of their movie, where she was a producer," the source said. "He then love-bombed her just like he love-bombed Samantha. He continued to date Melina even after Samantha found out about it and confronted him."

While Cope reportedly "wanted to go to counseling," Lawrence "fooled their counselor" even going so far as to "get ready for dates with Melina while Sam watched, bawling her eyes out."

Related: Co-star(ly) Love! Everything You Need to Know About Joey Lawrence's Wife Samantha Cope

In her filing, Cope listed their date of separation as June 7, 2024. She also requested to block the court's ability to award spousal support to either side and is seeking sole physical custody of their daughter 19-month-old daughter, Dylan . In addition, Cope asked that Lawrence "not take [Dylan] for long, extended periods of time until she is old enough to specifically ask for the visitation time" and that Dylan not "be in the presence of any non-family members while with Joe unless agreed upon by Samantha."

Adding more legitimacy to the source's claims are divorce filings by Alves' estranged husband, Edward Rider , obtained by TMZ . Rider alleged that he discovered Alves was having an affair with Lawrence in late March. Rider filed his divorce paperwork in July, several weeks before Cope filed. According to Rider, the affair took place in California and "at various other times and places."

Lawrence and Cope tied the knot in May 2022. The couple met on the set of 2021's My Husband's Secret Brother, which was directed by Lawrence's brother Andrew . Cope is Lawrence's third wife, as the Blossom star was previously married to Chandie Yawn-Nelson from 2005 to 2020 and Michelle Vella from 2002 to 2005.

Lawrence has not commented on the alleged affair.

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