A North Carolina woman, Brenay Kennard, has been ordered by a judge to pay $1.75 million to Akira Montague after being accused of having an affair with Montague’s husband. The case has drawn national attention because North Carolina is one of the few states where a spouse can legally sue another person for breaking up their marriage.
According to court documents, the affair reportedly took place in the Montagues’ marital home and was even showcased on Kennard’s TikTok account, where she has over three million followers. Montague claimed that Kennard’s actions caused severe emotional trauma, hurt her physical and mental health, and disrupted her children’s sense of stability by destroying their home life.
A jury agreed, awarding Montague $1.75 million in damages for criminal conversation and alienation of affection. The verdict has reignited debate over the legality of such lawsuits, with many arguing they protect the sanctity of marriage, while others say they belong in a bygone era.