Wow?
According to Melina Alves, it’s more… no!
Earlier this week, Samantha Cope filed for divorce from Joey Lawrence, marking the actor’s third divorce of his adult life.
After two years of marriage, the couple have split due to irreconcilable differences, with Cope seeking full custody of their 19-month-old daughter, Dylan, but allowing Lawrence visitation at her discretion.
Meanwhile, various sources say Cope believes their marriage fell apart because Lawrence was having an affair with Alves, who co-starred with her in the film Socked in for Christmas.
Now Alves has spoken out about these allegations.
“First and foremost, I want to clarify that there was no sexual relationship between Joey and I while filming Socked in for Christmas,” Alves wrote on Instagram.
“Ours has been a meaningful friendship that developed naturally due to the many similarities in our personal situations.”
Alves added that she was “immediately struck by his kindness, warmth and sincerity of character,” and that the actors found “common ground in our shared experiences” that became the basis for “a strong and supportive friendship that is a source of strength for both of us.”
Yet, she insists there was nothing romantic about their relationship.
As “background to these allegations,” Alves said she and her ex-husband, Edward Ryder, have been estranged since January 2023 and “have been living in separate rooms since that time.”
She continued:
“Our marriage had not been going well for a long time and separating was a necessary step for both of us.
“I have always valued my privacy and it is extremely painful that such a personal matter has been brought into the public eye, causing harm not only to me but also to Joey, who has been unfairly drawn into this situation.”
Alves also said he had filed a temporary restraining order against Ryder, concluding in his post:
We ask that you understand and respect our privacy as we navigate these difficult times.
This is an extremely private matter that was never intended to be made public. I hope this clarification will put an end to the speculation and allow Joey and I to move forward without further interference.
