Kim Kardashian Testifies in 2016 Paris Robbery Trial: “I Thought I Was Going to Be Raped”

In a gripping and emotional testimony at a Paris courtroom, Kardashian recounted in detail the terrifying night masked gunmen tied her up at gunpoint and stole more than $6 million worth of jewelry, including deeply personal pieces.

On the night of October 3, 2016, Kardashian was staying in a private residence during Paris Fashion Week. In court, she described how the attack unfolded just as she was falling asleep. Initially believing it was her sister Kourtney returning, Kardashian called out when she heard footsteps—only to be confronted moments later by two masked men dressed as police officers, dragging the hotel concierge in handcuffs.

“I thought it was some sort of terrorist attack,” she said. She tried to grab her phone but froze, realizing she didn’t know how to contact emergency services in France. The robbers bound her hands, pointed a gun at her, and ripped away her phone. As her robe fell open, Kardashian recalled a moment of dread. “I was certain that was the moment he was going to rape me,” she said. One of the men, however, told her in English to stay quiet and she would be unharmed.

They taped her mouth shut and moved her into the bathroom. Eventually, she managed to free her hands and found her stylist Simone Harouche downstairs. Fearing the robbers might return, the two women climbed out onto a balcony and hid in the bushes before calling Kardashian’s mother.

The robbers took personal items including a watch gifted to her by her late father and a diamond ring she wore earlier that evening. “It wasn’t just jewelry. It was so many memories,” she said. Investigators later revealed the thieves had tracked her via social media posts and geotags, combining her digital footprint with traditional surveillance.

Kardashian told the court how the experience drastically altered her life. She now travels with up to six bodyguards, avoids posting real-time updates online, and struggles with sleeping alone. She also revealed that her Los Angeles home was burglarized shortly after the Paris incident—an act she suspects was inspired by the original robbery.

During the trial, the judge read a letter from one of the accused—who was too ill to attend—in which he expressed remorse after seeing Kardashian’s emotional media appearances. She acknowledged the letter in court, saying, “I forgive you for what had taken place. But it doesn’t change the emotion, the trauma, and the way my life is forever changed.”

Now studying to become a lawyer, Kardashian said she regularly visits prisons and believes in second chances. She emphasized, however, that her testimony was about seeking closure and reclaiming control over her life.

In a symbolic gesture, Kardashian appeared in court wearing a $1.5 million diamond necklace by Samer Halimeh New York—a statement of resilience and power. A press release for the necklace was issued while she was on the stand.

Twelve suspects were originally charged in connection with the robbery, dubbed les papys braqueurs (“the grandpa robbers”) by the French press due to their age. One has since died, and another was excused for medical reasons. The remaining defendants face charges including armed robbery, kidnapping, and criminal association. Some could face life imprisonment if convicted.

The trial is expected to conclude on May 23, marking what Kardashian hopes will be the final chapter in a haunting ordeal. “This is my closure,” she told the court. “This is me putting this, hopefully, to rest.”