Joey Lawrence's co-star Melina Alves has denied allegations that she had an affair with the actor after his wife Samantha Cope filed for divorce earlier this month.
“It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that I address the recent allegations regarding my relationship with Joey Lawrence which have unfortunately become a public matter,” Alves began his Instagram post.
“As a private citizen, it is extremely disappointing to see such a personal and sensitive issue being discussed so openly and inaccurately.
“First and foremost, I want to be clear that no sexual relationship occurred between me and Joey during the filming of Socked in for Christmas,” she added. Alves wrote, produced and co-starred with Lawrence on the film.
Joey Lawrence accused of cheating with married co-star after wife Samantha Cope files for divorce
Melina Alves has released a detailed statement on social media denying allegations of an affair with Joey Lawrence. (Getty Images/Instagram)
“Ours has been a meaningful friendship that evolved organically due to the many similarities in our personal situations. When I met Joey, I was immediately struck by his kindness, warmth and genuine nature. We found common ground from our shared experiences that has led to a strong, supportive friendship that has been a source of strength for both of us.”
A representative for Alves confirmed her remarks to Fox News Digital. Representatives for Lawrence and Cope did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
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Rumours of an affair between Lawrence and Alves are said to have contributed to Lawrence's break-up.
“I want to be clear that no sexual relationship occurred between Joey and me during the filming of Socked in for Christmas.”
According to a People source, “Joey met Melina Alves, who was a producer on the set of a movie. He then lovebombed her just as he had lovebombed Samantha. After Samantha found out and confronted him, he continued to date Melina.”
Coop suggested the pair go to counseling, but Lawrence apparently “scammed the counselor” and prepared for a date with Melina while Sam was left sobbing, the source claims.
Cope filed for divorce earlier this month. (Getty Images)
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According to court documents, the “Blossom” star's ex-wife filed for divorce on Aug. 13, two months after their June 7, 2024 separation. The separation comes two years after Lawrence and Cope married in May 2022. The couple have a 1-year-old daughter, Dylan, and Cope is seeking full custody of her.
Alves went on to provide “background” to the alleged interactions with Lawrence. In her post, she explained that she and her ex-husband, Edward Ryder, have been “estranged” since January 2023 and “have been living in different apartments since then,” adding that the separation was “a necessary step for both of us.”
“I further feel I must share that my estranged husband created a situation where I had to obtain a temporary restraining order against me. This was a difficult and very personal decision, one that I made solely to protect myself at a time of vulnerability.”
The Brazilian-born actress added that Ryder “violated the restraining order and the day I went to the police to report it, he immediately contacted the press, tormenting me further.”
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Ryder filed for divorce just weeks before Cope filed for separation from Lawrence, according to TMZ, which reportedly obtained the filing, which states that Ryder found out about Alves and Lawrence's affair in March.
Alves ended her post by reiterating that “this is an extremely private matter” that she never wanted to make public, and that she “wants to put an end to the speculation so that Joey and I can move forward without any further interference.”
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Cope recently shared a post of himself on social media, hinting at moving on from the negativity.
“A wonderful friend recently told me, 'Don't be afraid of tears. Let them flow,'” Cope wrote on Instagram. “Tears are God gently squeezing the pain and sadness out of your heart to make room for new and beautiful emotions to come in.”
Cope recently posted on social media about getting through a difficult situation and appeared to hint at a breakup with Lawrence. (Getty Images/Joey Lawrence/Instagram)
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The actress ended her video with a happy clip of herself and her daughter Dylan smiling while petting a horse. The touching post was accompanied by a voiceover stating, “Look at you, look how much you've grown.”
Fox News Digital's Stephanie Jean Pouanon and Larry Fink contributed to this report.
