Kim Kardashian, the American reality TV star and entrepreneur, delivered an emotional testimony in a Paris courtroom on May 13, 2025, revisiting the traumatic armed robbery she endured in the French capital nearly a decade ago. The testimony, which was part of an ongoing trial involving over a dozen suspects, recounted in vivid detail the moments she feared for her life and the long-lasting psychological impact the incident left behind.
The robbery occurred on October 3, 2016, during Paris Fashion Week, when Kardashian was staying at the Hôtel de Pourtalès, a luxury residence often used by celebrities. In her testimony, Kardashian recounted waking in the middle of the night to what she initially believed were footsteps belonging to her sister, Kourtney Kardashian. Instead, she came face-to-face with masked men dressed as police officers, who forced their way into her suite.
“They grabbed me, tied me up, taped my mouth,” Kardashian said in court. “I thought I was going to die. I begged them, ‘Please, I have babies, let me live.’”
The robbers made off with over $6 million in jewelry, including her $4 million engagement ring from then-husband Kanye West. The traumatic ordeal lasted mere minutes but left a permanent scar on her life, Kardashian said. The thieves locked her in a bathroom as they fled, and she was eventually able to free herself and get help.
Thirteen people, many in their 60s and 70s and dubbed the “grandpa robbers” by French media, are currently on trial in connection with the heist. Aomar Ait Khedache, considered the ringleader of the group, sent Kardashian a letter of apology, expressing regret for the emotional damage caused. Kardashian acknowledged the letter in court, saying, “I forgive him, but that doesn’t erase what happened to me.”
Another suspect, Yunice Abbas, has admitted involvement in the robbery and even authored a book about the crime. He is among those facing charges related to armed robbery, abduction, and criminal conspiracy.
This courtroom appearance marks the first time Kardashian has given public testimony about the robbery, and it was widely anticipated given the global media coverage the event received in 2016. At the time, the robbery raised serious concerns about celebrity safety and prompted Kardashian to significantly change how she engages with the public, particularly on social media. In the aftermath of the incident, she ceased posting real-time updates about her whereabouts and implemented stricter security protocols for both her personal and professional life.
Kardashian emphasized during her testimony that she believes her highly visible social media presence made her a target. “I used to post everything I was doing, where I was staying, what I was wearing, in real time. I don’t do that anymore,” she said.
The ongoing trial has reignited conversations about the vulnerability of celebrities in the digital age, where constant online exposure can create serious security risks. Legal experts and advocates have also pointed to the case as a rare example of high-profile accountability in crimes against celebrities, especially involving organized crime networks.
Kardashian’s testimony not only highlighted the terror she experienced but also the resilience she developed in its wake. While she expressed her willingness to forgive, she was clear that the emotional scars remain. “I don’t sleep the same. I don’t trust the same. My life is divided between before and after Paris,” she told the court.
The trial is expected to continue through the end of May, with further testimonies and deliberations to follow. For Kardashian, the courtroom appearance represents both a painful return to the past and a moment of closure — a chance to reclaim the narrative of one of the most traumatic experiences of her life.
Source; Al Jazeera
