NC TikTok star’s husband takes the stand in alienation of affection trial
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- Day three featured witness testimony in alienation of affection lawsuit against Kennard.
- Timothy Montague’s testimony contradicts what Akira Montague said about their relationship
- Court heard Kennard’s ex-husband, Akira’s mother and grandmother
For trial updates from Friday, Nov. 7, see this story.
When Timothy Montague proposed to Akira Montague in 2018, he said he found the cheapest ring he could to present to her at a Duke football game. He didn’t get down on one knee. He didn’t ask “Will you marry me?”
In a Durham County Courthouse Thursday, Timothy Montague testified he was never in love with his now ex-wife.
“We were just like roommates,” Timothy Montague said.
Timothy Montague is now married to North Carolina TikTok influencer Brenay Kennard. Montague’s ex-wife, Akira, has sued Kennard for alienation of affection, alleging she had an affair with Timothy, which resulted in the breakup of her marriage.
The third day of the trial featured witnesses from both sides.
Kennard — representing herself as the defendant — used her first witness, Timothy Montague, to challenge Akira’s assertion that she and Timothy loved each other.
Akira Montague, the plaintiff suing Kennard for $3.5 million in damages, used her witnesses to demonstrate the harm and trauma Kennard allegedly caused her.
The trial has drawn national attention thanks to Kennard’s 3 million followers on TikTok. Kennard, who lives in the Pitt County town of Winterville, is a lifestyle content creator who posts “get ready with me” videos, cooking and makeup tutorials and food reviews known as mukbangs.
Here are the biggest highlights from the third day of the trial.
Husband testifies after weapons charge
Timothy Montague was in the courtroom a day after he was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and bringing a weapon to the courthouse.
The Durham County Sheriff’s Office told The N&O via email that the weapon, a loaded semiautomatic handgun, was allegedly found in Montague’s bag during a routine screening at the entrance of the courthouse.
Kennard’s ex-husband testifies
Kennard and Timothy Montague had a relationship in high school. They dated while the two attended Word of God Christian Academy in 2014, according to Montague’s testimony.
Devon Mayo, Kennard’s ex-husband who filed for divorce in March, testified he overheard Kennard and Montague in December 2023 talking about rekindling that relationship while he was trying to sleep.
Mayo said he overheard Kennard and Montague having intimate relations a few times in his home in January 2024.
Contrasting versions of the Montagues’ relationship
A person filing an alienation of affection must prove three things: a marriage involving love and affection existed; the love and affection was “alienated and destroyed”; and the love was destroyed by a third party, The News & Observer previously reported, citing a Charlotte-based family lawyer. That can be done through testimony, photos or other evidence.
On Wednesday, Akira Montague testified that Timothy would write her love notes every day and exhibited other signs that he loved her.
On Thursday, Veneta Sydnor, Akira’s mother, testified that her daughter and Timothy Montague “were inseparable.” Sydnor recalled one time Akira and Timothy threw grapes in each other’s mouth as an example of how often they played together.
As recently as August 2023, texts between Sydnor and Timothy showed that Timothy reached out to her to plan a surprise birthday party for Akira at Maggiano’s Little Italy in Durham.
But Timothy Montague disagreed with his ex-wife’s testimony. He denied ever writing love notes or getting flowers for Akira Montague.
“I can’t even recall a time when we held hands,” Timothy said.
He testified that the two didn’t marry for love. Before they married, the couple had an awkward housing situation, Timothy Montague said.
He said he was waiting for student housing at N.C. State to become available, and in the meantime, Akira told him her mother didn’t want her back home. So Timothy’s parents allowed the couple to stay at their house under one condition: Timothy and Akira had to tie the knot within 60 days.
Not wanting to leave his girlfriend “on the streets,” Timothy said he obliged.
Timothy said he and Akira fought regularly and separated in 2021 when Timothy went to college and had to live on campus. Sydnor said they were still together during that time.
Timothy Montague denied having a previous affair before meeting Kennard, claiming he and Akira Montague were not together at the time of that relationship. Timothy said Akira regularly held the alleged affair against him during the remainder of their relationship.
Timothy separated from Akira in March 2024 and divorced in August.
“I loved her but I wasn’t in love with her,” Timothy said.
An alleged altercation between Kennard and Akira’s grandmother
Kennard had been staying with the Montagues since December 2023 — against Akira’s wishes because Timothy wanted her to stay.
Cheryl Sydnor Carter, Akira Montague’s maternal grandmother, testified that she came over to Akira and Timothy Montague’s house to spend time with her grandchildren.
The day before, Carter, Sydnor and Akira met at a Walmart and discussed how Akira was uncomfortable with Kennard staying at the house she shared with Timothy.
Carter testified that when she came to the house, Kennard was on the couch. She asked Kennard to leave because her name was on the lease. Kennard refused.
“Akira, you better come get your grandma because I don’t have a problem putting my hands on an old lady,” Kennard said, according to Carter’s testimony. Timothy used similar wording in his testimony of what Kennard said — except that Kennard told Akira to get her grandmother “before I smack her.”
Carter and Kennard got into an altercation where Kennard pushed her, Carter testified. Carter pushed her back before Timothy got in between the two women.
Timothy testified that the altercation never got physical.
The trial continues Friday.
NC TikTok star’s alienation of affection case
Here are previous stories from the case.
This story was originally published November 6, 2025 at 9:48 PM.
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