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TikTok Tarot Reader Ordered to Pay $10M in Defamation Lawsuit
Influencer falsely accused Idaho professor of involvement in student murders
Published on Mar. 4, 2026
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A TikTok tarot reader named Ashley Guillard was ordered by a jury to pay $10 million in damages to University of Idaho assistant professor Rebecca Scofield. Guillard had posted dozens of videos falsely claiming Scofield was romantically involved with one of the four Idaho students murdered in 2022 and had ordered the killings. Scofield, who had never met the students, sued Guillard for defamation, and the jury unanimously ruled in her favor, awarding $7.5 million in punitive damages and $2.5 million in compensatory damages.
Why it matters
This case highlights the potential consequences for social media influencers who spread false and defamatory information, even if they claim to have psychic abilities. It also underscores the damage that can be done to an innocent person's reputation and career when they are falsely accused of a serious crime.
The details
Guillard, a Texas-based TikTok user, posted numerous videos claiming Scofield was romantically involved with one of the four University of Idaho students murdered in 2022 and had ordered the killings. However, Scofield testified that she had never met any of the students and that Guillard's accusations had hurt her career and caused her mental anguish. After representing herself in court, Guillard was ordered by the jury to pay $10 million in damages, with $7.5 million in punitive damages and $2.5 million in compensatory damages.
- Scofield filed the lawsuit against Guillard in 2022.
- The jury reached its verdict on March 4, 2026.
The players
Ashley Guillard
A TikTok tarot reader from Texas who posted videos falsely accusing University of Idaho professor Rebecca Scofield of being involved in the 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. Scofield had never met any of the students.
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 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
Police arrested Bryan Kohberger on Dec. 30, 2022, and charged him with the murders. In July 2025, Kohberger pleaded guilty in order to avoid the death penalty.
The takeaway
This case underscores the serious consequences that social media influencers can face for spreading false and defamatory information, even if they claim to have psychic abilities. It serves as a warning to others who may be tempted to make unsubstantiated accusations against innocent people.
