The ongoing civil trial in Durham County, North Carolina, has attracted national attention due to the high-profile nature of one of the defendants: social media personality Brenay Kennard. Known online as @LifeOfBrenay, Kennard has amassed more than three million followers across TikTok and Instagram, where she posts lifestyle content, cooking demonstrations, makeup routines, and mukbang videos.
The legal case brought against her, however, is not rooted in her public persona, but in accusations by another woman who claims Kennard contributed to the dissolution of her marriage. The lawsuit centers on the state’s alienation of affection law, a 19th-century legal statute that allows a spouse to sue a third party for allegedly interfering in a marital relationship.
The plaintiff, Akira, is seeking $3.5 million in damages, alleging that Kennard’s relationship with her then-husband, Timothy Montague, was the direct cause of the end of their marriage. While the case has generated viral interest due to Kennard’s large online audience, the testimony offered so far has focused heavily on whether the marriage between Akira and Montague was one rooted in affection, commitment, and mutual love, as required for an alienation of affection claim.
The proceedings have included statements from family members, text messages, and personal recollections of the marriage before its breakdown. The trial underscores the complexities of personal relationships that become entangled with public visibility, and how legal standards interact with conflicting narratives about love, responsibility, and emotional connection.
Background of the Relationship and Marriage
In court testimony, Timothy Montague stated that his marriage to Akira was not founded on romantic love. He told the court that he and Akira married primarily due to a housing situation, explaining that the two needed to secure a place to live while he awaited student housing. According to Montague, they stayed with his parents during the interim, and his parents required that they marry within 60 days if they intended to live in the household.
Montague testified that, not wanting Akira to be without accommodation and with no alternative housing arrangement available, he agreed to the marriage. He stated that he purchased the least expensive ring he could find and that the arrangement was largely practical rather than emotional. Montague described the marriage as resembling that of roommates rather than romantic partners. He said that they did not frequently express affection toward one another and that gestures of love, such as handwritten notes or flowers, were not part of their relationship.
According to his testimony, disagreements and conflicts occurred often, and the couple experienced ongoing tension. Montague stated that the relationship eventually deteriorated further when he moved to student housing in 2021, at which point he considered the marriage effectively over, though they remained legally married until their official divorce in August 2024. Akira, however, presented a different characterization of the relationship.
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She stated that she believed the marriage was genuine and affectionate and that she felt she and Montague shared a strong bond. Akira’s mother, Veneta Sydnor, testified that she observed affectionate behavior between the couple. Sydnor described moments where the pair appeared closely bonded, including sharing food and playful interactions that she interpreted as signs of romantic connection. She stated that the marriage seemed stable and loving from her perspective and that any difficulties that arose were comparable to those faced by many married couples.
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Text messages entered into evidence also reflected communication that could be interpreted as affectionate. One example included messages between Montague and Akira discussing plans for a surprise birthday celebration for Akira. These messages are being used by the plaintiff to argue that the marriage exhibited emotional closeness and mutual care. The characterization of these interactions has become central to determining whether the marriage meets the legal definition of one based on affection, which is required for the plaintiff’s claim to succeed.
Allegations and Testimony Presented in Court
The lawsuit alleges that Brenay Kennard’s involvement with Montague directly contributed to the end of the marriage. Akira claims that the relationship between Montague and Kennard began while Montague was still committed to the marriage and that Kennard’s presence and influence were instrumental in Montague’s decision to end it. Under North Carolina’s alienation of affection law, a plaintiff must demonstrate that the marriage involved love, that the love was destroyed, and that the defendant’s actions caused that destruction. The law does not require proof of sexual infidelity; emotional interference alone may be sufficient.
Kennard has represented herself during the trial, questioning witnesses directly. She called Montague to the stand to address claims that the marriage had been affectionate. Montague denied writing love notes, giving gifts, or engaging in intentional romantic gestures. He stated that while he had cared for Akira, he did not feel romantically in love with her and that the emotional foundation of their marriage was minimal. He reiterated that his decision to marry was based on concern for her housing situation rather than affection.
Montague also stated that there was no preexisting romantic relationship between himself and Kennard while he was married to Akira. He testified that accusations of an affair had arisen previously, but he maintained that he did not pursue a romantic connection with Kennard until after the separation had begun. He stated that Akira had repeatedly accused him of being involved with someone else but that these accusations were unrelated to actual events. Ultimately, Montague and Kennard later married, which has further influenced public perception of the timeline and motivations behind the relationship.
Akira’s legal argument depends on proving that her marriage involved genuine love that Kennard’s involvement damaged. The opposing side’s strategy is focused on establishing that no such affection existed in the marriage and that the relationship was unstable and largely practical from the beginning. The jury must consider not only the emotional testimony of those involved but also the legal standards defining alienation of affection.
Social Media Attention and Broader Legal Context
The case has drawn widespread attention beyond North Carolina due to Kennard’s large social media following. Supporters and critics have discussed the case across various platforms, speculating about the timeline of relationships and the emotional state of the marriage. The visibility of the trial has generated broader conversations about the nature of online fame, personal relationships conducted in public view, and how audiences perceive private matters when they involve public figures.
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However, the legal proceedings themselves are focused strictly on the evidence presented and the specific requirements of state law. North Carolina is one of only a few states that still allow alienation of affection lawsuits. The law originated in the 19th century and was historically tied to the idea that a spouse had a legal interest in the affection and fidelity of their partner.
While many states have abolished such statutes, North Carolina continues to permit suits claiming emotional interference in a marriage. To succeed, plaintiffs must meet a relatively demanding burden of proof regarding the emotional state of the marriage and the effect of the defendant’s behavior. The public nature of Kennard’s online identity has not altered the legal requirements or standards being applied.
The outcome of the case may influence continued public discussion about whether such laws remain appropriate in contemporary society. Regardless of broader debate, the case currently centers on determining whether Akira’s marriage with Montague fit the criteria for emotional affection and whether Kennard’s actions contributed to its breakdown. The trial continues to proceed with testimony from both sides, and the ultimate verdict will depend on how the jury interprets the relationships described and the evidence presented.