In a surprising turn of events, Sophie Turner, the 27-year-old star of Game of Thrones, has filed a lawsuit against her now-estranged husband, Joe Jonas. The legal battle revolves around the custody of their two daughters and some other issues stemming from the breakdown of their marriage.
Sophie’s legal documents, filed in a Manhattan court on September 21, demand “the immediate return of children wrongfully removed or wrongfully retained.” The paperwork also delves into the details of their marriage’s unraveling.
According to Sophie, the “wrongful retention” of their children began on September 20. Last Christmas, Sophie and Joe had reportedly agreed to make England their “forever home” and started looking into schools for their older daughter, Willa, who is three years old. They even found a charming home in the English countryside, prompting them to put their Miami estate up for sale. The family officially relocated from Miami to England on April 10, 2023. Sophie began working on her mini-series, Joan, in close proximity, while Joe embarked on a world tour. As a temporary arrangement, the couple had decided to let their daughters travel with Joe, as he had more free daytime hours to spend with the kids.
However, things took an unexpected turn with a sudden argument on August 15, 2023. Joe filed for divorce on September 1, and Sophie claims that she only found out about it “from the media” four days later. Furthermore, Joe’s divorce filings allegedly inaccurately stated that the children had resided in Florida for six months prior to the filing.
Just two weeks after the divorce filing, Sophie and Joe met to discuss their separation. Sophie reiterated their plan to have the children move to England but claims Joe is withholding their passports. On September 19, Joe’s attorney confirmed that he wouldn’t return the passports or consent to their daughters moving to England. This prompted Sophie to file the lawsuit. She is also planning to file a similar lawsuit in the United Kingdom, where her case would be considered a “breach” of her custody rights.
Sophie’s petition was filed under The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, emphasizing the international nature of the dispute.
Joe Jonas, on the other hand, has responded to Sophie’s lawsuit through his representative, who issued a statement regarding the allegations that he is keeping their daughters away from her. Joe’s camp labeled Sophie’s lawsuit as a “harsh legal position” that contradicts the “amicable co-parenting setup” they believed they were working towards. According to Joe’s rep:
“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.”
Joe’s statement also clarified that he seeks shared parenting with the kids, aiming for them to be raised by both their mother and father, with a willingness for the children to be raised in both the U.S. and the UK.
Regarding the claim that Sophie found out about the divorce “through the media,” Joe’s statement asserts that she was “aware” of his intentions through “multiple conversations.” The statement continues:
“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 also addressed various “disparaging” reports about Sophie, such as allegations of partying, stating:
“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.”
In the midst of this ongoing legal dispute, it’s clear that both Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas are determined to protect their interests and ensure the well-being of their children. As this situation unfolds, it’s essential to remember that legal matters can be complex and nuanced, and only time will tell how this custody battle will ultimately be resolved.
