Brenay Kennard should fork over a staggering $1.75 million after a Durham County jury decided the TikTok sensation wrecked her supervisor’s marriage by an extramarital relationship.

The social media persona, who instructions almost 3 million TikTok followers and 274,000 Instagram devotees, now confronts one among North Carolina’s most substantial alienation of affection verdicts in current reminiscence.

The authorized battle centered on accusations that Kennard had engaged in an intimate relationship with Tim Montague, her skilled consultant, whereas he was nonetheless married to Akira Montague. The couple had exchanged vows on October 20, 2018, laying the groundwork for what would turn out to be a pricey authorized confrontation.

Akira Montague’s civil criticism, filed in May 2024 with Durham County Superior Court, painted a devastating image of marital destruction. The plaintiff argued that the affair inflicted extreme emotional trauma, compromised her bodily well-being, and robbed her youngsters of an intact household construction.

The romantic entanglement allegedly unfolded each inside the Montague household residence and throughout Kennard’s varied social media platforms.

The jury’s choice break up the large monetary penalty into two distinct classes: $1.5 million for alienation of affection and $250,000 for legal dialog.

These prices characterize North Carolina’s distinctive authorized framework that allows betrayed spouses to pursue financial damages towards third events who intervene with their marriages. Kennard vehemently disputed the decision’s validity, claiming the wronged spouse had already accepted her marriage’s demise.

“She gave her consent,” Kennard told WRAL. “She said it was okay because she knew her marriage was over with, and it was done.”

The influencer maintained that Akira Montague was absolutely conscious of the connection’s deteriorating state earlier than any romantic involvement commenced.

The case joins North Carolina’s prolonged roster of costly alienation of affection judgments. Historical precedents embrace Carol Puryear’s record-breaking $30 million award in 2011 towards Betty Devin, involving Donald Puryear, a trucking firm proprietor.

@willowedtears Brenay and Tim might care much less I see lol smh #brenay #brenayandtim #brenaykennard #akiramontague #drama music/original-sound-7570493913744591629?refer=embed”>♬ unique sound – ImJustTheMessenger

More not too long ago, former state Senator Rick Gunn settled an identical lawsuit for $3 million in 2021 after being accused of sustaining a protracted affair along with his legislative assistant. Robonetta Jones, who represented Akira Montague all through the proceedings, expressed satisfaction with the end result.

“She has received justice from losing her husband and the father of her children,” Jones said, emphasizing the profound private losses her consumer endured.

North Carolina stays amongst solely six states sustaining these antiquated authorized provisions, which hint their origins to English frequent legislation traditions.

The statutes enable jilted spouses to hunt compensation from people they consider destroyed their marriages by romantic interference.

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