TikTok Tarot Reader Ordered to Pay $10 Million for Defaming Idaho Professor

Jury finds influencer Ashley Guillard liable for falsely accusing professor of involvement in 2022 student murders

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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A TikTok tarot reader named Ashley Guillard has been ordered by a jury to pay $10 million in damages to University of Idaho assistant professor Rebecca Scofield. Guillard had falsely accused Scofield of being romantically involved with one of the four Idaho students murdered in 2022 and of ordering the killings, posting dozens of videos making these claims on TikTok. Scofield, who had never met the students, sued Guillard for defamation, and the jury agreed that the influencer's statements were lies that damaged Scofield's career and caused her mental anguish.

Why it matters

This case highlights the potential for social media influencers to cause real harm through the spread of misinformation and false accusations, even about people they have never met. It also demonstrates the legal recourse available to those who are defamed, as Scofield was able to successfully sue Guillard for the damages caused by the TikTok videos.

The details

Guillard, a self-proclaimed tarot reader and psychic from Texas, gained millions of views on TikTok for videos in which she falsely claimed that Scofield was romantically involved with one of the four University of Idaho students murdered in 2022 and that Scofield had ordered the killings. Scofield, who had never met the students, sued Guillard for defamation in 2022. On Friday, a jury unanimously ordered Guillard to pay $10 million in damages, with $7.5 million in punitive damages and the rest in compensatory damages.

  • In 2022, Scofield filed a lawsuit against Guillard over the TikTok videos.
  • On Friday, March 4, 2026, the jury ordered Guillard to pay $10 million in damages.

The players

Ashley Guillard

A TikTok tarot reader from Texas who posted dozens of videos falsely accusing University of Idaho professor Rebecca Scofield of being involved in the 2022 murders of four Idaho students.

Rebecca Scofield

A University of Idaho assistant history professor who was falsely accused by Guillard of being romantically involved with one of the murdered students and of ordering the killings, despite never having met the students.

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What they’re saying

“You spoke lies into a camera about me and my husband. You were making [dozens] of videos about me, someone you never met, you never talked to — someone you had no connection to. I don't know how anyone could not feel threatened by that level of interest from someone they had never met.”

— Rebecca Scofield, University of Idaho Assistant Professor

“I am actually gleaming with excitement. I'm going to immediately start planning because I cannot wait to present my ideas in court regarding Rebecca Scofield and her role in the murder of the four University of Idaho students.”

— Ashley Guillard

What’s next

The judge will determine if Guillard's assets are sufficient to pay the $10 million judgment against her.

The takeaway

This case demonstrates the serious legal consequences that can result from social media influencers spreading misinformation and false accusations, even about people they have never met. It serves as a warning to others who may be tempted to use their platforms to defame innocent individuals.