Melina Alves accused of affair with 'Socked in For Christmas' costar Joey Lawrence in divorce papers

Joey Lawrence is reportedly involved in an affair with Brazilian actress and writer Melina Alves, as stated in divorce documents filed by Alves' husband.

Alves co-stars with Lawrence, 48, in the upcoming Christmas movie "Socked in For Christmas." The affair allegations surfaced shortly after it was revealed that Lawrence's wife, Samantha, has initiated divorce proceedings after two years of marriage.

According to TMZ, Alves' husband, Edward Rider, filed for divorce in New Jersey at the end of July. Just a few weeks later, Samantha Lawrence filed her own documents. Rider claims he discovered the affair between Alves and Lawrence in late March, alleging that it began in California. The movie starring Alves and Lawrence was filmed in Los Angeles during March and April, according to on-set photos.

Samantha listed June 7 as the date of her separation from Lawrence, as reported by the Daily Mail. Alves, who also wrote the Christmas film, shared a photo on Instagram on April 18, showing her and Lawrence with other cast members, captioning it with praise for the team and expressing that she misses them.

Rider's filing also suggests that Alves and Lawrence's alleged affair continued "at various other times and places" beyond California.

Interestingly, Lawrence met Samantha on the set of a Lifetime movie, "My Husband’s Secret Brother," in 2020. They got engaged in August 2021 and married in May 2022. In her divorce filing, Samantha cited "irreconcilable differences" and requested sole custody of their daughter, Dylan, born in January 2023. She also asked that Lawrence's visits with Dylan be limited and at her discretion until their child is older and can consent to longer visits. Samantha requested that neither party receive spousal support.

Alves also shares a child with her estranged husband. Reps for Lawrence and Alves have not yet commented on the situation.