Joey Lawrence's Divorce Just Got Very Messy Amid His Alleged Affair With Christmas Movie Co-Star

When Joey Lawrence and Samantha Cope announced their divorce earlier in August, they cited “irreconcilable differences.” However, a second divorce on the East Coast between Melina Alves and her husband, Edward Rider, told a much different tale. Lawrence and Alves allegedly had an affair while working on their upcoming movie, Socked in for Christmas.

TMZ was the first outlet to put the puzzle pieces together after obtaining Rider’s New Jersey divorce filings against Alves on Aug. 22. He alleges that his estranged wife and Lawrence began an affair earlier this year. He discovered their indiscretion in late March but did not file for divorce until late July, ahead of Cope’s divorce filing in California. Rider claims the fling happened “at various other times and places” — meaning this was not a one-night stand. 

A source close to Cope shared more details with People about the breakdown of her marriage to Lawrence — and it sounds rather traumatic. “Joey met Melina Alves on the set of their movie, where she was a producer,” the insider alleged. “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.” Despite couples’ therapy, Lawrence reportedly “fooled their counselor” and continued to “get ready for dates with Melina while Sam watched, bawling her eyes out.”

Alves shared an Instagram snapshot from the holiday movie set on April 18 with a very loving caption for Lawrence. (You can see the photo here.) “We had a great team, that’s for sure ???? @joeylawrence Miss you everyday @allisonelliottbeauty ! See you soon @ricardochavez33 ???????????????? #filmmaking #christmasinjuly,” she wrote. She and Lawrence are standing beside each other, with two other cast and crew members in their winter gear and smiling directly at the camera. 

Cope and Lawrence married in May 2022 after meeting on the set of the Lifetime movie, My Husband’s Secret Brother, in 2021. They share a daughter, Dylan, 19 months. This was Lawrence’s third marriage — he was previously married to Michelle Vella from 2002-2005, and Chandie Yawn-Nelson from 2005-2022. He shares two daughters, Charli, 18, and Libby, 14, with Yawn-Nelson.

Lawrence has yet to comment about the allegations.

Before you go, click here to see all the celebrity couples who have stayed together after cheating scandals.