Sofia Vergara’s team accuses her ex-fiance, Nick Loeb, of ’emotional extortion’

Sources close to Sofia Vergara say it’s no coincidence the actress’ ex-fiance, Nick Loeb, wrote a scathing op-ed directed at her for the New York Times the same week as her Hot Pursuit premiere.

“Wednesday is the most important day of Sofía’s career. She is opening her first movie [as a leading actress], co-starring an Oscar-winner — a movie that she executive produced — and Nick is trying to ruin it,” an insider told Page Six yesterday. “This comes from his anger over the end of their relationship and her subsequent engagement to Joe Manganiello. He is using his anger to emotionally extort her.”

The argument stems from Sofia and Nick’s ongoing battle over their frozen embryos, which were created from her eggs and his sperm dring their relationship. In a lawsuit quietly filed in August 2014, Nick requested ownership (or custody?) of the two surviving female embryos, even though the contract he and Sofia signed states the embryos “could be brought to term only with both parties’ consent.”

After the lawsuit was brought to light last month, Nick started to be very vocal with his opinion — leading up to the New York Times‘ column this week.

Does one person’s desire to avoid biological parenthood (free of any legal obligations) outweigh another’s religious beliefs in the sanctity of life and desire to be a parent? A woman is entitled to bring a pregnancy to term even if the man objects. Shouldn’t a man who is willing to take on all parental responsibilities be similarly entitled to bring his embryos to term even if the woman objects? … I take the responsibility and obligation of being a parent very seriously. This is not just about saving lives; it is also about being pro-parent.

Speaking to Page Six the following day, Sofia’s source clarified the Modern Family actress “does not want to destroy the embryos.” The insider added, “She wishes them to remain stored at the clinic. She is focused on her film, moving into her new home, and the most important day of her life — her wedding.”