Joey Lawrence Opens Up About ‘Multifaceted Journey’ Throughout Marriage to Samantha Cope

Joey Lawrence is opening up about starting a brand new chapter amid his divorce from Samantha Cope.

On the August 30 episode of his podcast, The Brotherly Love Pod, the Melissa and Joey alum, 48, mentioned how he’s navigating life after after Cope filed for divorce on Aug. 20 and allegations surfaced that he had an affair together with his Socked in for Christmas costar Melina Alves.

“I attempt to defend my youngsters in any respect prices and what’s occurred currently shouldn’t be OK,” Lawrence defined. “This has been a multifaceted journey these 4 [or] 5 years. Truly, there was loads of ache in that journey regardless of public notion and what it appears to be like like [on social].”

Regardless of the challenges, Lawrence shared that he hopes to now concentrate on household as he navigates the subsequent step in his life.

“Life will transfer on and we’ll transfer via this. And my youngsters might be on the forefront,” he mentioned of 19-month-old daughter Dylan (whom he shares with Cope) and his youngsters from his second marriage to ex-wife Chandie Yawn-Nelson: Charleston, 18, and Liberty, 14.

“I’ve all the time and can all the time be the most effective dad I can probably be and I’ll maintain my women till the day I die. And I’ll cherish them and honor them and do my finest by them,” he added. “I am not good however I’ll do my finest by them for positive.”

“Simply attempt to perceive that it’s such a non-public journey and we’re simply gonna do the most effective we will,” he continued on the podcast. “And I am going to be sure that the most effective is finished by [daughter] Dylan, clearly like I’ve for [daughters] Charlie and Libby. That’s crucial factor.”

Someday earlier than the podcast was launched, Cope, 37, shared an announcement with PEOPLE after Lawrence claimed that they had a “deeply troubled marriage” and his daughters Charleston and Liberty weren’t “accepted by” the actress in his personal assertion on Instagram.

“As a mom who values her daughter above all else, I discover these false accusations deeply troubling,” Cope shared within the assertion. “I’m assured that the reality is thought to me, to Joey, and to God.”

“I’m selecting to place my concentrate on therapeutic, caring for my daughter, and processing the lack of my marriage and my household,” she continued.

In his personal assertion, Lawrence additionally claimed the pair’s “short-lived marriage was fraught with difficulties from the start” and their “variations turned insurmountable” whereas additionally denying having a bodily relationship with Alves whereas filming their film Socked in for Christmas.

On Wednesday, Aug. 20, PEOPLE confirmed that Lawrence and Cope had been separating after two years of marriage.

In court docket paperwork obtained by PEOPLE, Cope cited irreconcilable variations as the explanation for his or her cut up and submitted the paperwork on Aug. 13 — two months after their date of separation, which was listed as June 7, 2024. Cope requested to dam the court docket’s capability to award both facet spousal help. She can also be in search of full bodily custody of their daughter Dylan, 19 months, whereas allowing Lawrence visitation at her discretion.

By no means miss a narrative — join PEOPLE’s free every day publication to remain up-to-date on the most effective of what PEOPLE has to supply​​, from movie star information to forcing human curiosity tales.

Shortly after Lawrence and Cope’s divorce information broke, a supply near the household informed PEOPLE that Lawrence allegedly had an affair with Melina Alves, his costar on Socked in for Christmas. One other supply claimed the 2 “had a working relationship and had been companions on a pair issues.”

“He knew she was additionally going via a divorce,” the supply continued. “He was very empathetic to her state of affairs as effectively and referred to as her collateral injury in terms of all this.”

One other insider later informed PEOPLE that Lawrence and Cope’s separation helped enhance the actor’s relationship together with his family members and mend his coparenting relationship with Nelson.

“As soon as they cut up, issues acquired exponentially higher between him and his ex spouse and their women,” the supply mentioned of Lawrence. “Joey’s robust and powerful in his religion so he is making an attempt to take all of it in stride, however he’s very dissatisfied and upset at how all of this has turned out.”