On Sunday’s episode of his “Brotherly Love” podcast, Joey Lawrence opened up about the status of his divorce from estranged wife Samantha Cope and denied cheating on her with co-star Melina Alves. Despite what public perception and appearances might suggest, the actress revealed that this all has not been any kind of heaven, as she shared with Oprah Winfrey, “The past four or five years have been about me giving my whole being over to my child.” HELL WILL BREAK LOOSE—I will do anything to protect my kids, and if that means go all of in—then HELLS TO THE YES.I try to keep my life private; the real… with what is really going on has been a challenge.
The 37-year-old also dated girlfriend Chandie Yawn-Nelson prior to his relationship with Lawrence in 2021. In 2023, the couple had a daughter, Dylan, together after their marriage in 2022. Cope, 30, filed to end her marriage earlier this month and claimed irreconcilable differences with Linz—although there is a request for sole custody of their son Dylan, who turns 19 months old on Monday.
Allegations and Denials
After filing for divorce, Lawrence was alleged to have cheated on her with “Socked in for Christmas” star Melina Alves. Lawrence and 40-year-old Alves have denied the allegations. In a statement on social media, Lawrence insisted: “There is no truth in this article at all, and you should be ashamed of making such terrible things up. Jheyda Alves has never had any physical relationship with me whatsoever; we merely became friends from dancing together to then arranging fundraisers.”
He also called out how the untruths have impacted his family, including his three daughters, Charleston (18), Liberty (14) and Dylan. “Then I get really—it devastates me over my kids and only about my children, not for myself,” he told brothers Matthew and Andy Lawrence on the podcast. He alluded to his fear of the day when he might have to explain it away later, should either daughter run across them. “Balance is always needed in these things, and right now, there’s a very big imbalance,” he continued.
Thinking About the Relationship
Lawrence said his relationship with Cope was rocky from the beginning. He said his marriage broke down in part because Cope was “having a difficult time embracing Charleston and Liberty,” the two daughters he shares with Yawn-Nelson. Cope has denied those reports, branding them as unfounded and deeply disturbing.
“Most of my friends are getting married, and they’re so in love it’s like a new step in evolution—I have two friends who’ve been together forever and can’t get enough when they’re with each other,” Lawrence replied at the time. “I’m not that way… dysfunctional is more or less what we were.” He confessed that he had rushed into his relationship with Cope shortly after splitting from his then-wife and was not ready for the emotional side of things. He said, ‘I basically sold and gave away my moral compass that I had for all these years of living with it.’
Still, Lawrence said he is attempting to take a better path forward for his daughters. “Life will go on, and we shall get through this. I will lead my children,” he said. He vowed to still be the best dad that he could: “Always have been. “I will always water my seeds and watch them grow till eternity on 4 Nem.”
A New Chapter Ahead
Part of that has been because, as Arthur Lawrence Stuart Gurwitz says during the project’s intro session, “My public life over the last few years isn’t really who I was.” It makes me sad that my personal life these past four years has been exposed so much. ”I am not that person,” he admitted. He added that Dylan, his youngest daughter, “don’t deserve to be dragged through the mud.”
Lawrence has referred to Cope’s remarks in terms of the healing and attending currently only to her child. I am concentrating on healing, taking care of my daughter, and trying to process the loss of clothes in… Read more.”
Proceed with Faith and Family
In the midst of them all, Joey Lawrence makes it a point to calm down and meditate on what matters most—his family. Dan continues to fight for his children, wanting them to have the best life they can. “Even though I am the farthest thing from perfect, for sure I am going to do my best with these 2!” he declared.
As this new chapter of his life starts, Lawrence aims to centre on becoming a better person and caring for his children rather than any drama with him about whether they should or shouldn’t be together and look forward to the prospect of kindness.
