Durham, N.C. — November 10, 2025
A Durham County jury has ordered TikTok influencer Brenay Kennard, who boasts nearly 3 million followers, to pay $1.75 million to Akira Montague after finding her liable for destroying Montague’s marriage through an affair with Montague’s then-husband, Timothy Montague.
The verdict, reached after a six-day trial and brief deliberation, awarded Montague $1.5 million for alienation of affection and $250,000 for criminal conversation — two outdated civil claims still recognized in North Carolina, one of only six U.S. states that permit spouses to sue third parties for interfering in a marriage.
Montague, a mother of two, filed the lawsuit in May 2024, accusing Kennard of seducing Timothy Montague — who served as Kennard’s manager — and publicly flaunting the relationship on social media. Court documents allege that Kennard stayed with the couple during a period of marital strife in her own relationship, confided in by Akira Montague about personal issues, only to later engage in flirtatious behavior and an extramarital affair.
Evidence presented included videos, photos, and text messages showing Kennard and Timothy Montague together, which the jury deemed sufficient to prove intentional interference and adulterous conduct. Kennard defended herself in court, claiming the relationship had Montague’s consent, but the jury rejected this argument.
“This case was about accountability,” said Montague’s attorney, Robonetta Jones, following the verdict. “The evidence overwhelmingly showed that Ms. Kennard not only alienated the affections of my client’s husband but also caused profound emotional harm.”
North Carolina’s alienation of affection law requires proof of genuine love in the marriage prior to interference, while criminal conversation focuses on the act of adultery itself. Such cases are rare but have resulted in multimillion-dollar awards in the past.
Kennard, known online for lifestyle, cooking, and mukbang content, reacted to the verdict outside the courtroom, calling it unfair and suggesting Montague may never collect the damages. A separate phase for potential punitive damages is scheduled for next year.
The high-profile case highlights North Carolina’s unique “heartbalm” torts, which critics argue are antiquated but defenders say protect marital relationships from deliberate harm. As of early 2026, the judgment stands, with possible appeals pending.
