Joey Lawrence Says Wife Samantha Cope’s Refusal To Accept His Older Daughters Led To Divorce Filing

Actor Joey Lawrence has opened up about why his marriage to Samantha Cope ended and cited difficulties with his daughters’ acceptance as the major factor.

In a detailed Instagram post on Aug. 29, Lawrence said that his three daughters are his top priority and that the lack of acceptance from Cope toward his two eldest daughters contributed to the collapse of their marriage.

“The unraveling of my marriage was tied to my realization that my two eldest daughters were never going to be accepted by my wife… I cannot and will not compromise on the love and care that my daughters deserve, and this realization played a significant role in the breakdown of my relationship,” he wrote.

In his statement, Lawrence acknowledged the public scrutiny that comes with his life but reiterated that his children’s well-being remains his utmost concern: “Thank you for your understanding and respect as I navigate this difficult chapter in my family’s life.”

Lawrence shares his daughters Charleston, 18, and Liberty, 14, with ex-wife Chandie Yawn-Nelson.

He and Cope welcomed their daughter Dylan in 2023. Cope filed for divorce on August 13, two months after their separation on June 7, and cited irreconcilable differences. In her filing, she requested to waive spousal support for both parties and sought full physical custody of their daughter with approved visitations from Lawrence at her discretion.

Cope shared her response to Lawrence shortly in a statement: “As a mother who values her daughter above all else, I find these false accusations deeply troubling… [The] truth is known to me, to Joey, and to God.”

“I am choosing to put my focus on healing, caring for my daughter, and processing the loss of my marriage and family,” she concluded.

Lawrence and Cope were married in May 2022 at Temecula Creek Inn in California after meeting on the set of Lifetime’s My Husband’s Secret Brother.