Singer Joe Jonas has broken his silence after his estranged wife, actor Sophie Turner, filed a lawsuit against him for refusing to let their two daughters return to England, her native country. Joe’s representative issued a statement to People.com, calling Sophie’s claims “misleading” and “a serious abuse of the legal system”.
Joe initiated divorce proceedings in Florida
According to the statement, Joe initiated divorce proceedings in Florida, as it is the appropriate jurisdiction for the case. Sophie was aware that Joe was going to file for divorce. The Florida court has already entered an order that restricts both parents from relocating the children. Sophie was served with this order on September 6, 2023, more than two weeks ago.
Joe and Sophie had a cordial meeting in New York
The statement also said that Joe and Sophie had a cordial meeting in New York on Sunday, when Sophie came to New York to be with the kids. They have been with her since that meeting. Joe’s impression of the meeting was that they had reached an understanding that they would work together towards an amicable co-parenting setup.
Sophie demanded to take the children permanently to the UK
However, less than 24 hours after the meeting, Sophie advised that she wanted to take the children permanently to the UK. Thereafter, she demanded via this filing that Joe hand over the children’s passports so that she could take them out of the country immediately. If he complies, Joe will be in violation of the Florida court order.
Joe is seeking shared parenting with the kids
The statement further said that Joe is seeking shared parenting with the kids so that they are raised by both their mother and father and is, of course, also okay with the kids being raised both in the US and the UK. The statement added that the children have spent the vast majority of their lives in the US.
The children were not abducted
The statement concluded by saying that this is an unfortunate legal disagreement about a marriage that is sadly ending. When language like ‘abduction’ is used, it is misleading at best, and a serious abuse of the legal system at worst. The children were not abducted. After being in Joe’s care for the past three months at the agreement of both parties, the children are currently with their mother.
Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner announced their divorce recently after four years of marriage. They have two children–three-year-old Willa and another 14-month-old daughter.