‘Homewrecker’ TikTok Star Brenay Kennard Ordered to Pay Raleigh Native Akria Montague $1.75 Million for Ruining Her Marriage Under North Carolina Law

A North Carolina jury has ordered TikTok influencer Brenay Kennard to pay Akria Montague, a Raleigh native, $1.75 million after finding that Kennard’s affair with Montague’s husband destroyed their marriage. The verdict was reached under the state’s rarely used “alienation of affection” law, one of only a few such laws still active in the U.S.

According to court documents filed in Durham County, Montague accused Kennard — who has nearly 3 million TikTok followers — of seducing her husband, Tim Montague, while he was still married. The couple, who wed in 2018 and share two children, saw their marriage unravel after Tim began an affair with the social media star, who also happened to be his manager.

Akira Montague (left) and Tim Montague (right) were married in 2018

Montague filed a civil lawsuit in 2024, initially seeking $3.5 million in damages. Her claim alleged that Kennard’s actions caused her emotional distress, public humiliation, and the breakdown of her family. “Ms. Kennard flaunted her relationship with a married man — and of course, it went viral,” said Montague’s attorney, Robonetta Jones, in comments to WTVD. “My client was humiliated as a result.”

After a six-day trial, jurors awarded Montague $1.5 million for alienation of affection and $250,000 for criminal conversation — North Carolina’s legal term for adultery. The $1.75 million judgment marks one of the largest such verdicts in the state’s history.

Under North Carolina’s alienation of affection law, a spouse can sue a third party for intentionally interfering in their marriage. To win, the plaintiff must prove the marriage was loving, the third party knew it existed, and the affair directly caused its breakdown. Evidence often includes text messages, emails, and witness testimony. Only six states, including North Carolina, still recognize the statute, which dates back to English common law.

Kennard, pictured with her lover Tim Montague, was convicted under North Carolina’s laws that allow a spouse to sue the person responsible for breaking up their marriage

Kennard denied wrongdoing, claiming Akria Montague knew her marriage was already over and had even “given her consent” for the relationship. “She said it was okay because she knew her marriage was done,” Kennard told the jury, according to WRAL.

During the trial, Jones presented more than 700 pages of evidence, including photos, text messages, and social media posts showing the two couples socializing together. At the time of the affair, Kennard was reportedly married to Tim Montague’s first cousin, making the situation even more tangled.

“She posted pictures and videos showing the couples taking trips together, spending time as if nothing was wrong, and pretending to still be husband and wife,” Jones told reporters.

Kennard later filed a motion to dismiss the case, arguing that some of the evidence — including photos and videos — had been obtained unlawfully. The judge rejected that motion.

After the verdict, Akria Montague’s attorney said the outcome sends a powerful message. “There are consequences for interfering with another person’s marriage,” Jones said. “People have to know that if you sleep with someone who’s married, there are consequences in the state of North Carolina — and maybe they’ll think twice before doing it.”