TikTok Influencer Ordered To Pay $1.75M In Alienation Of Affection Case
A North Carolina jury has ruled that TikTok creator Brenay Kennard must pay $1.75 million to her manager’s ex-wife after determining she played a direct role in ending the couple’s marriage. Kennard, who has 2.9 million followers, was sued by Akira Montague under North Carolina’s alienation of affection law, which allows spouses to sue a third party for interfering in a marriage.
In her complaint, Akira accused Kennard of befriending her and then using personal information from that friendship to pursue Akira’s husband, Tim Montague, who was also Kennard’s content manager. Kennard was married to Tim’s cousin at the time.
Montague alleged that Kennard intentionally acted to “seduce” her husband, describing behavior like wearing short skirts, bending over in front of him, flirting, and pointing out her tongue piercings in a sexual way. According to the lawsuit, the influencer also learned personal details about the marriage — including Tim’s past infidelity — and allegedly used that information to deepen the affair.
Akira said she learned of the relationship in January 2024 when a video surfaced showing Tim and Kennard inside the couple’s home. The lawsuit claims the pair exchanged “numerous sexual videos and text messages,” met frequently in the marital home, took trips together, and created videos professing love and plans for marriage and future children.
Akira argued that her husband emotionally withdrew as a “direct result” of Kennard’s actions and began hiding finances tied to outings and dates with the influencer.
Jurors found Kennard liable for both criminal conversation — a claim tied directly to adultery — and alienation of affection. The verdict included $250,000 for the criminal conversation claim and $1.5 million for alienation of affection.
Kennard told NBC affiliate WRAL that she disagrees with the jury’s decision, claiming Akira had given consent to the relationship and allegedly said her marriage was already over. Akira denied ever approving the affair.
North Carolina remains one of the few states where alienation of affection lawsuits are still allowed, leading to high-profile, high-dollar verdicts like this one.
