Joe Jonas's Rep Calls Sophie Turner's Child Abduction Lawsuit “Misleading”
Update 9/21/23:
A representative for Joe Jonas responded to Sophie Turner's lawsuit, saying that certain claims were “misleading.”
In a statement shared with People, the rep said that Turner “was aware” Jonas would file divorce proceedings in Florida, citing Florida as “the appropriate jurisdiction for the case.” The rep adds, “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.”
Turner met with Jonas this past Sunday in New York City, where she has since spent time with their two children. “Joe’s impression of the meeting was that they had reached an understanding that they would work together towards an amicable co-parenting setup,” the rep's statement continued. After their 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.”
Jonas is allegedly “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 U.S. and the UK,” but maintains that his daughters “have spent the vast majority of their lives in the U.S.,” per the statement.
“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,” the statement reads. “After being in Joe’s care for the past three months at the agreement of both parties, the children are currently with their mother. Sophie is making this claim only to move the divorce proceedings to the UK and to remove the children from the U.S. permanently.”
The statement additionally acknowledged the early tabloid coverage of the couple's split, in which sources cited Turner's partying lifestyle as a reason for the divorce.
“Joe has already disavowed any and all statements purportedly made on his behalf that were disparaging of Sophie. They were made without his approval and are not consistent with his views,” the rep said in the statement. “His wish is that Sophie reconsider her harsh legal position and move forward in a more constructive and private manner. His only concern is the well-being of his children.”
Original 9/21/23:
Sophie Turner filed a lawsuit in a New York City court today, suing ex-husband Joe Jonas over the “wrongful retention” of their two kids, three-year-old Willa and a one-year-old daughter referred to as D. in documents.
The suit, which was obtained by People, demands “the immediate return of children wrongfully removed or wrongfully retained.” Turner’s legal team alleges the children’s “wrongful retention” began on September 20.
The court documents claim: “The Father has possession of the children’s passports. He refuses to return the passports to the Mother and refuses to send the children home to England with the Mother.” Jonas’s attorney reportedly confirmed to Turner’s team on September 19 that, not only would he not hand over the passports, he is also withholding consent for his daughters to move to England.
In the suit, Turner alleges that she and Jonas had decided to make England their “forever home” during conversations that occurred in December 2022. Thereafter, they sold their mansion in Miami and began to look for residences in the English countryside in April. Around this time, the Game of Thrones alum also began filming a new drama series, Joan.
When Jonas began his world tour with the Jonas Brothers last month, the couple decided Willa and D. would stay with him, since he “had more daytime hours to be available to them than Turner did amid filming,” People says—noting that the lawsuit says Turner had “hesitation” over the “temporary arrangement.”
On August 15, the end to the couple’s four-year marriage occurred “very suddenly,” Turner says in the suit. When Jonas filed for divorce on September 1, the actor claims she first heard about it “from the media.”
The former couple butted heads on custody issues two weeks after Jonas filed for divorce. By that point, Turner claims, she “reiterated” their plans to move to England, and Jonas expressed that he had changed his mind.
The couple, who tied the knot in 2019, confirmed the end to their marriage via a joint statement shared to social media on September 6.
“After four wonderful years of marriage we have mutually decided to amicably end our marriage,” the message read. “There are many speculative narratives as to why but, truly this is a united decision and we sincerely hope that everyone can respect our wishes for privacy for us and our children.”
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