Joey Lawrence Is Trying to Take Samantha Cope Divorce ‘in Stride’ but Is Very ‘Upset’ by How It’s Playing Out (Source)

The source also tells PEOPLE that Lawrence’s costar, Melina Alves, has become “collateral damage” in his ongoing divorce from Cope

Samantha Cope (left) and Joey Lawrence.

Joey Lawrence is disappointed by how his divorce with Samantha Cope has unfolded.

A source close to the family tells PEOPLE that Lawrence and Cope’s separation helped improve his relationship with his loved ones and mend his coparenting relationship with ex-wife Chandie Yawn-Nelson, with whom he shares his daughters, Charleston, 18, and Liberty, 14.

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“Once they split, things got exponentially better between him and his ex wife and their girls,” the source says of Lawrence. “Joey’s strong and strong in his faith so he’s trying to take it all in stride, but he is very disappointed and upset at how all of this has turned out.”

Last week, another insider told PEOPLE that Lawrence allegedly had an affair with his Socked in for Christmas costar, Melina Alves. The source close to the family notes that the two “had a working relationship and were partners on a couple things.”

“He knew she was also going through a divorce,” the source continued. “He was very empathetic to her situation as well and called her collateral damage when it comes to all this.”

PEOPLE has reached out to reps for Lawrence and Cope for comment.

Lawrence and Cope tied the knot in May 2022. They first met while filming Lifetime’s My Husband’s Secret Brother a year prior.

On Aug. 13, Cope filed for divorce from Lawrence after two years of marriage. According to a divorce filing obtained by PEOPLE, Cope cited irreconcilable differences as reason for their split and submitted the paperwork on Aug. 13 — two months after their date of separation, which was listed as June 7, 2024.

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She requested to block the court’s ability to award either side spousal support. Additionally, she is seeking full physical custody of their daughter Dylan, 19 months, while permitting Lawrence visitation at her discretion.

“Once Dylan is 3 or older, Joe will have the option to take her for 2 nights in her home location if he is not working and can facilitate her visiting,” the filing stated.

(L-R) Ricardo Chavez, Allison Elliott, Joey Lawrence and Melina Alves film ‘Socked in for Christmas.

Following the news, a source close to the former couple claimed that the pair went their separate ways after Lawrence allegedly struck up a relationship with Alves, a writer and costar on his upcoming film, Socked in for Christmas.

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“Joey met Melina Alves on the set of their movie, where she was a producer,” the source claimed. “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.”

Another source later told PEOPLE that Lawrence and Cope “had troubles from the beginning of their relationship” and noted that while Lawrence did strike up a relationship with Alves, “infidelity isn’t the cause” for their split, “not by a long shot.”

“He had gotten to a point where he had hit his limit with defending his kids, his mom and his family to Samantha,” the source claimed, adding that Lawrence was “relieved the marriage is over because he can breathe.”

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“He can be himself,” the source further explained. “He’s taking the time to make up for all of the lost time that he had with his children.”

Though Lawrence has not spoken out publicly since news of his divorce broke, Cope broke her silence on Saturday, Aug. 24 through an Instagram post, in which she highlighted recent good times, as well as some low moments.