Brenay Kennard, a popular TikTok influencer from Durham, North Carolina, has been ordered to pay 1.75 million dollars in damages after a jury found her responsible for breaking up her manager’s marriage. The civil lawsuit accused Kennard of engaging in an affair with her manager, Tim Montague, which led to the collapse of his nearly five year marriage to his wife, Akira Montague.
The case, heard in Durham County Court, alleged that Kennard and Tim Montague maintained a romantic relationship both privately and publicly, eventually prompting him to leave his wife for the influencer. According to the complaint, the affair caused significant emotional harm to Akira Montague and disrupted her family’s stability.
Akira said the betrayal deeply affected her mental and physical well being and left her children without a stable two parent home. Her attorney, Robonetta Jones, said Akira finally received justice for losing her husband and the father of her children.
The jury ruled that Kennard was liable for criminal conversation and alienation of affection. These are rare civil claims that still exist under North Carolina law and allow a spouse to sue someone they believe interfered in their marriage. The ruling resulted in the 1.75 million dollar judgment against Kennard.
Kennard challenged the verdict, arguing that Akira had known about the affair and gave consent because she believed the marriage was already ending. The court rejected that argument and focused on the documented harm caused to the Montague family.
The case gained widespread attention because Kennard publicly shared parts of her relationship with Montague on social media. She has nearly three million followers on TikTok and more than two hundred and seventy thousand followers on Instagram, making the affair visible to the public and adding to the controversy surrounding the trial.
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