Kim Kardashian returned to Paris this week—not for fashion, but to testify in the ongoing trial over the 2016 robbery that changed her life forever.
On May 13, Kim and her mother, Kris Jenner, appeared in court as proceedings continued for the high-profile case involving five men who broke into Kim’s hotel room during Fashion Week over eight years ago. More than $10 million in jewelry was stolen, including a $4 million ring from then-husband Kanye West.
Kim, who took the stand, reflected on how her relationship with Paris shifted:
“I came to Paris for Fashion Week, and Paris is always a place that I love so much. I always felt really safe…I’d stop in little hotels for hot chocolate, it was magical. But when I came for Fashion Week during that trip, it changed everything.”
She recalled being moments from falling asleep when masked men stormed in.
“I obviously was very confused when they first walked in – I had to make sense of what was happening… I was just about to fall asleep,” she said, adding she was wearing only a robe.
Kim said she was startled to see the hotel night receptionist, Abderrahmane Ouatiki, brought in by the intruders. “And I think that confused me a bit more – not understanding if he was a part of this or he wasn’t. I understand now how shocked he was and he was just a victim like myself and we were in this together.”
Though they repeatedly asked for her ring, she didn’t realize it was a robbery.
“I was still in such shock, because honestly a lot of terrorist attacks were going on in the world… I didn’t get it was about my jewellery, even though they specifically asked for my ring.”
As they rifled through her belongings: “The taller one was looking through my stuff and had found the jewellery box, and he said: ‘aha, aha!’ – excited and grateful that he found more jewellery.”
With a gun to her back, she considered escaping. “That was the first moment I thought should I run for it? But it wasn’t an option so I just stayed – and that’s the moment I realized I should just do whatever they say.”
Her biggest fears: “I’m certain that’s the moment he rapes me. I say a prayer to mentally prepare myself,” she shared. But instead, she was tied up. “At that point I was sure that’s when they were going to shoot me. So I said a prayer for my family and my mom and my sister and best friend.” She added, “I absolutely did think I was gonna die.”
Eventually, the robbers left. Kim freed herself and found her stylist, Simone. The two hid in bushes before calling her mom.
Since then, she’s made drastic changes: “I can’t even sleep at night if I know there’s not multiple security [guards],” she said. Jewelry now goes to a safe deposit box before she gets home.
Despite receiving a letter of regret from one of the defendants, she said: “I do appreciate the letter for sure. I do appreciate it, I forgive you. But it doesn’t change the emotion, the feelings and the trauma.”
Now working toward a law career, Kim added: “This is what I do. I want to become a lawyer… It was terrifying and life changing and I don’t wish that kind of terror on anyone – to think you could be killed or raped – I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.”
