A North Carolina jury has awarded $1.75 million in damages to a woman whose marriage unraveled after her husband began a relationship with a TikTok influencer, while they were all living under the same roof.
Akira Montague filed a lawsuit against social media personality Brenay Kennard, accusing her of seducing her now ex-husband, Tim Montague, and boasting about the affair to her 2.9 million followers.
The case invoked North Carolina’s rarely used “alienation of affection” law, which allows individuals to sue a third party for interfering in a marriage, as explained by Cornell Law School.
Akira Montague (shown) sued TikTok star Brenay Kennard for allegedly breaking up her marriage to her ex-husband, Tim Montague. Credit: Instagram
After reviewing more than 700 pages of evidence, including sexual text messages and videos, the jury found Kennard liable for both alienation of affection and criminal conversation, a separate claim that involves having sex with someone else's spouse.
The final judgment included $250,000 for criminal conversation and $1.5 million for alienation of affection.
Brenay Kennard and Tim Montague are married. Credit: Brenay Kennard / Instagram
From houseguest to homewrecker
Kennard had moved into the Montague household in December 2023 after experiencing issues with her own husband.
According to Akira, the decision made her uncomfortable from the start. Over the next few months, she said her relationship with Tim began to fall apart, a collapse she blamed on their new houseguest.
The lawsuit alleged that Kennard, who was then married to Tim’s cousin, made calculated efforts to seduce him by wearing short skirts, flirting, and “flicking her tongue to expose her tongue rings in a flirtatious manner", per NBC News.
Akira also accused her of using deeply personal information, confided during what she believed to be a friendship, to manipulate her husband.
The heartbroken woman eventually discovered the affair in January 2024 after seeing a video of Kennard and Tim filmed inside their home. “I literally was like dizzy. Like I was about to faint,” she later told WTVD.
The couple formally separated in March and finalized their divorce in August. Tim then married Kennard.
“She doesn't regret it,” Akira told WTVD. “Like she said, I'm just bitter because she took my husband. Those were her words. That's what she told the jury.”
Akira's attorney, Robonetta Jones, said her client was “humiliated” by the way Kennard flaunted the affair on social media during the marriage.
The influencer, who shares food reviews and recipe videos online, has remained largely silent on the verdict but seemed unfazed, posting videos and selfies shortly after the decision.
According to NBC affiliate WRAL, Kennard has criticized the jury’s decision and claimed that Akira had allegedly given her consent to the affair, saying: “She said it was okay because she knew her marriage was over with, and it was done.” Akira has denied that claim.
Akira originally sued for $3.5 million. While she was awarded half that amount, her attorney, Robonetta Jones, hopes the verdict sends a message.
“I want people to be able to think, OK, Mrs. Montague won $1.75 million. Is that man worth it? Is that woman worth it?” Jones told WTVD. “They will think now. [Kennard] posted online that she wanted to be Mrs. Montague, and I believe she did everything she could.”