Kim Kardashian Recounts Harrowing Paris Robbery: “I Thought I Was Going to Die”

Nearly nine years after the traumatic 2016 Paris hotel heist, Kim Kardashian testifies in court, revealing chilling new details about the night masked gunmen stole millions in jewels and changed her life forever.

Kim Kardashian is finally confronting the masked men who turned one of her most glamorous nights into a terrifying ordeal.

On Tuesday, the reality star and entrepreneur took the stand in a Paris courtroom to testify about the 2016 robbery that left her bound, gagged, and fearing for her life. Nearly a decade after the incident, Kardashian revisited the trauma that unfolded inside her luxury hotel suite during Paris Fashion Week—a trip she now says permanently altered her lifestyle and sense of safety.

“I absolutely did think I was going to die,” the 43-year-old told the court, according to the Associated Press. “I was certain that was the moment that he was going to rape me.” She recalled the horrifying thought of her sister walking in and discovering her lifeless body: “I thought about my sister, thought she would walk in and see me shot dead and have that memory in her forever.”

Kardashian, who was in the French capital with her then-husband Kanye West, her mother Kris Jenner, and sisters Kourtney and Kendall, was alone at the time of the robbery—except for her longtime stylist and childhood friend Simone Harouche, who was sleeping in a nearby room.

A Night That Changed Everything

The chilling events began around 3 a.m., as Kardashian packed her belongings for a morning departure. She testified to hearing footsteps and stomping up the stairs before men dressed as police officers stormed her suite.

“I heard one of the gentlemen forcefully say, ‘Ring! Ring!’ in English, with an accent,” she said. The men were demanding her engagement ring—an extravagant $4 million piece gifted by Kanye West—and other valuables. Kardashian said she was hysterical, pleading with the hotel concierge. “I told him, ‘What is going to happen to us? I have to make it home to my babies.’” One of the robbers assured her she would be okay if she remained quiet.

Harouche testified that she heard Kardashian begging for her life: “She kept saying, ‘I have babies and I need to live.’”

Fearing for their own safety, Harouche locked herself in the bathroom and texted Kourtney and their bodyguard for help. Before help arrived, she heard Kardashian hopping down the stairs—her ankles still bound with zip ties. “She was beside herself,” Harouche said. “She just was screaming.”

A Lasting Impact

The armed gang made off with millions of dollars in jewelry, including items never recovered. Five of the ten suspects now on trial face charges of armed robbery and kidnapping, with potential life sentences. The others are accused of complicity and illegal possession of weapons. Most of the suspects, part of a larger criminal ring, are reportedly in their 60s and 70s and tracked Kardashian’s movements via her Instagram posts—a stark reminder of the risks of real-time social media sharing.

In the years following the heist, Kardashian retreated from the spotlight. “I hated to go out,” she testified. “I didn’t want anybody to know where I was… I just had such anxiety.” She admitted to suffering from agoraphobia and drastically altering her public behavior.

Harouche, too, said the experience changed her life. “In terms of security, [Kim] can’t go alone, she doesn’t go alone to places anymore. To lose your sense of freedom … it’s horrible,” she said, adding that the trauma led her to change careers and seek therapy for post-traumatic stress.

Victim Blaming or Security Flaw?

During the testimony, Judge David De Pas asked whether Kardashian’s Instagram posts showcasing her lavish jewelry may have made her a target. Harouche quickly pushed back, calling the implication victim blaming: “That’s like saying that because a woman wears a short skirt that she deserves to be raped.”

Despite the glamour and wealth associated with Kardashian’s public image, the testimony revealed the deep vulnerability behind the headlines—a powerful reminder that no amount of fame can shield someone from violence or fear.

As the trial continues, Kardashian’s courage in recounting her experience shines a light not just on celebrity, but on survival, trauma, and the importance of justice.