A judge in North Carolina has ruled that influencers are banned from the courtroom after spectators livestreamed updates about popular TikToker Brenay Kennard’s million-dollar alienation-of-affection case.
Why was Brenay Kennard back in court?
Kennard appeared in a hearing on Thursday after she violated a court order not to post about her legal proceedings on social media, according to Blavity and The News & Observer. The TikTok star went viral several months ago after she was ordered to pay $1.75 million in damages to her ex-best friend, Akira Montague, who is also the ex-wife of Kennard’s now-husband, Tim Montague.
Kennard’s case drew many social media influencers who traveled from as far as California to attend court hearings and share updates with their audiences. Many of them gathered as a group, using the name “Boots on the Ground” to gain coverage, particularly from the court’s hallway.
The online influencers said they were committed to gathering first-hand footage and updates from the hearing. However, they were shocked when the judge ordered them removed from the courtroom after influencers leaked footage online, per The News & Observer.
‘I wish I was exaggerating’
As the judge announced the ruling, many of the influencers looked around in disbelief, saying they weren’t the intended group that had shared the court details online. One person, who goes by the name “Feather Crown Press,” shared her thoughts on the courtroom ban.
“We got booted from the courtroom, y’all,” she said, per the newspaper, noting that she and other members had not livestreamed the event, “and I wish I was exaggerating.”
She also stated that the social media creators who attended the court hearing were very professional and “well-versed in courtroom etiquette.”
“We respect the rules of the court and have no intention of antagonizing any party involved,” she continued in a statement to People. “Because we work on digital platforms, we are keenly aware of how easily narratives can be shaped. For that reason, we prioritize primary sources and accurate reporting of the legal arguments as they are presented. While our support for the plaintiff is clear, our goal is always responsible, fact-based coverage.”
When is Kennard due back in court?
There were also people supporting Akira. During the November hearing, her fanbase filled the courtroom with cheers as the verdict ruled in her favor, per Blavity.
“She has received justice from losing her husband and the father of her children,” Robonetta Jones, Akira’s lawyer, said in a press conference outside the courthouse at the time, according to WRAL.
The hearing for Kennard has been continued until Feb. 10.