On Tuesday, August 4th, 2026, the Kentucky Court of Appeals upheld an Interpersonal Protective Order (IPO) against Kelly King, following a petition by her former partner, Kendra Brown. The decision was issued by Judge Sara Walter Combs, joined by Judges Glenn Acree and Jacqueline Caldwell.

Brown filed the petition citing multiple incidents of harassment and threats by King. The petition detailed that King had been repeatedly asked not to contact Brown but allegedly used her large social media following to spread and elicit hate speech toward Brown. Specific allegations included King following Brown out of a bar and throwing a drink on her in March 2022, trespassing on Brown's property in November 2022 and refusing to leave until police arrived, recording Brown while jogging and posting a harassing TikTok in November 2023, showing up at Brown's grandmother's funeral in May 2024 despite pleas for no contact, and posting a TikTok video in September 2025 showing King's fiancé "licking and rubbing" Brown's car.

Brown expressed fear for her safety due to King's repeated attempts to contact and harass her, alongside King's criminal history. The trial court issued an order prohibiting King from posting on social media about Brown to help prevent future acts of domestic violence, abuse, stalking, or sexual assault.

The court referenced a 2016 family court case where a similar order was upheld against a father sending harassing emails, emphasizing that such conduct is constitutionally unprotected when intended to harass or alarm. The judges noted that King could not claim her social media persona as a "jilted, potentially violent, and obsessively angry ex" was not real or threatening, especially given the history of violence during their relationship.

This ruling follows an earlier denial by the reviewing court of Brown's protection order petition in November 2022, underscoring the court's evolving stance on the matter.

Sources