Joe Jonas has accused Sophie Turner of ‘a serious abuse of the legal system’ after she filed a lawsuit against him for ‘abducting’ their children.
The celebrity couple confirmed their split earlier this month with Jonas filing for divorce on 5 September.
His petition said that while their children have been living with the musician in Miami and other places most recently, 'it is in the best interests of the minor children that the parties have shared parental responsibility'.
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But Page Six reports Turner filed a lawsuit today (21 September) requesting to secure 'the immediate return of children wrongfully removed or wrongfully retained'.
The Game of Thrones star claims the 'wrongful retention' of their two young girls began on 20 September, saying she and Jonas agreed over the Christmas period in 2022 that they would commit to England, where she is from, as their 'forever home'.
The lawsuit was filed under the child abduction clauses of the Hague convention, an international treaty which aims to force the return of children to their parent if they're taken from their country of 'habitual residence'.
But in a statement a representative has hit out at the filing, saying: “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.”
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The full statement from Jonas’s reps read: "After multiple conversations with Sophie, Joe initiated divorce proceedings in Florida, as Florida 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 this past Sunday in New York, when Sophie came to New York to be with the kids. They have been with her since that meeting.
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"Joe’s impression of the meeting was that they had reached an understanding that they would work together towards an amicable co-parenting setup.
“Less than 24 hours later, 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.
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“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 U.S. and the UK.
"The children were born in the U.S. and have spent the vast majority of their lives in the U.S. They are American citizens.”
It went on to mention the ‘unfortunate legal disagreement' and stressed, ‘the children were not abducted’, before continuing: "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.
“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.
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"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.”
Topics: Joe Jonas, Sophie Turner
Claire Reid