Joey Lawrence has come forward in his defense.
Earlier this month we learned that Samantha Cope had filed for divorce from the actor after just two years of marriage.
Cope cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the couple’s split and spoke on the matter…
… but sources have claimed she ended the relationship because Lawrence was sleeping with his Christmas date partner Melina Alves.
Now, a day after Alves vehemently denied such speculation, Lawrence has done the same.
The star posted a statement on Instagram this afternoon, beginning, “With a deep responsibility, I want to respond to recent allegations surrounding my private life, including claims about my divorce and affair with Melina Alves.”
“Melina and I became close friends and I did not have a physical relationship with her while filming ‘Socked In for Christmas.’
“These rumours are false. Our relationship was based on shared experiences and an understanding of the challenges we both faced in our personal lives.”
Lawrence further added that he met the actress during his “seriously troubled marriage” with Kopp, saying online:
“I clung to the hope that I could save a relationship that I knew deep down was impossible to save. My short-lived marriage was doomed from the start. Our differences had become irreconcilable.”
Alves made a similar statement on Wednesday.
“First of all, I want to make it clear that there was no sexual relationship between Joey and I while we were filming ‘Socked In For Christmas,'” she wrote on Instagram.
“Our relationship was a meaningful friendship that developed naturally because of the many similarities in our personal situations.”
Alves later referred to her own troubled relationship, and even said she had taken out a temporary restraining order against her estranged husband.
Alves concluded, “This is a very private matter that I never wanted to become public, and I hope this clarification will help put an end to speculation and allow Joey and I to move forward without any further interference.”
On Thursday, Lawrence emphasized the relationship between Cope and his eldest daughters Charleston (18) and Liberty (14), who he shares with ex-wife Chandi Yawn-Nelson.
“As a father, my three daughters are my world. They will always be my top priority,” he said. “The reason my marriage broke down was because I realised my two eldest daughters would never accept my wife as part of the family.
“I cannot and will not compromise on the love and care I give to my daughters, and this realisation played a significant role in the breakdown of my relationship.”
Lawrence, who also has a 14-month-old child with Cope, said:
“I understand that my life is often in the public eye, and with that comes a level of scrutiny that can be difficult to bear. However, I would like to stress that the well-being of my children is of the utmost importance.”
He concluded his statement by thanking fans for their “understanding and respect.”