Joey Lawrence and Socked in For Christmas Co-Star Melina Alves Allegedly Had An Affair, Divorce Papers Revealed

Joey Lawrence is facing allegations of having an affair with his “Socked in for Christmas” co-star and producer, Melina Alves.

According to divorce documents obtained on August 22, Alves’ estranged husband, Edward Rider, claims he discovered in March that Alves and Lawrence, 48, were involved in a romantic relationship.

Rider reportedly filed for divorce in New Jersey in July, shortly before Lawrence’s estranged wife, Samantha Cope, filed for divorce from the “Melissa & Joey” star.

Cope, 37, filed for divorce on August 21, two months after the date of separation she listed.

In her filing, Cope requested sole custody of their 19-month-old daughter, Dylan, but indicated that she would permit Lawrence to spend up to two nights per week with their daughter once she turns 3.

The documents also reveal that Cope has blocked any spousal support from being granted.

Before filing for divorce, Cope posted a cryptic message about “loss” on Instagram in June, which aligns with the month she cited as their separation date. The post read, “Not everything you lose is a loss.

Some things are a freedom. Some things are a second chance. Some things are a miracle in disguise. Some things are a detachment long-needed, a clarity brought to blurry eyes.”

Lawrence and Cope’s relationship began in 2020 after Lawrence’s separation from his ex-wife, Chandie Yawn-Nelson. They met on the set of the Lifetime movie “My Husband’s Secret Brother” and developed a close bond.

In 2021, Lawrence described meeting Cope as the “greatest thing ever” in an interview, which also reported their engagement exclusively in August 2021.

Lawrence and Cope were married in May 2022, and shortly afterward, they announced they were expecting their first child together. Their daughter, Dylan, was born in January 2023.

Lawrence, who also has two daughters, Charleston (18) and Liberty (14), with Yawn-Nelson, humorously described himself as a “hopeless romantic” who’s been “married a billion times.”

Reflecting on his experiences, Lawrence told, “It’s all about just trying to be happy. You got to be with the right person.”