Kim Kardashian appeared in Paris on Tuesday, delivering powerful testimony regarding the life-altering events of the 2016 Paris robbery. During her emotional court appearance, she recounted a harrowing moment when she found herself facing a masked intruder. In that terrifying instant, she silently prayed for her sister, best friend, and family as the assailant pulled her closer. The intruders zip-tied her hands and taped her mouth while she was clad in a bathrobe, compelling her to confront the horrifying thought that she might not survive this ordeal.

“I was certain that was the moment that he was going to rape me,” she stated, her voice trembling as she addressed the court. “I absolutely did think I was going to die.”

Before her poignant testimony, Kim Kardashian entered the courthouse accompanied by her mother, Kris Jenner. She wore a striking black suit adorned with dazzling diamonds that glimmered from her neck, ears, and hands. As reported by the Associated Press, her exquisite necklace from Samer Halimeh in New York has an astonishing value of $1.5 million, showcasing her high-profile lifestyle.

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Kim Kardashian Shares Details from the Night of the Jewelry Heist

The founder of SKIMS, Kim Kardashian, testified that she was preparing for bed when she heard loud stomping on the stairs. Initially, she assumed it was her sister, Kourtney Kardashian, and a friend returning from a night of revelry during Paris Fashion Week. However, her worst fears materialized when masked men burst into her room after she called out, “Hello? Hello? Who is it?” The intruders had entered her hotel disguised as police officers, having forcibly brought the concierge upstairs in handcuffs. “I thought it was some sort of terrorist attack,” she recounted. One of the attackers demanded her diamond ring, valued at an astounding $4 million, which was lying on the bedside table. “He said, ‘Ring! Ring!’ and he pointed to his hand,” Kardashian recalled, highlighting the gravity of the situation.

Kim Kardashian, center, walks up the steps of the palace of justice as she arrives to testify regarding a robbery of millions of dollars in jewels from her Paris hotel room in 2016, in Paris, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

During the terrifying break-in, Kim managed to grab her phone but was unaware of the French emergency number. When she attempted to reach out to her sister and bodyguard, a masked man intervened. Subsequently, the assailants threw her onto the bed, zip-tied her hands, and pressed a gun against her. In that moment of desperation, Kim pleaded for her life, expressing her overwhelming desire to return to her children.

“I have babies,” Kardashian said, her voice breaking on the stand. “I have to make it home. They can take everything. I just have to make it home.”

Rather than releasing her, the masked men forced her into the bathroom. One of them taped her mouth shut while another assured her that she would be okay if she remained silent. They locked her in the marble bathroom as they proceeded to steal over $6 million worth of jewelry, according to police reports. That was the final moment she saw the masked intruders, aside from her appearance in the witness box nearly a decade later.

In this artist sketch, Kim Kardashian testifies regarding a robbery of millions of dollars in jewels from her Paris hotel room in 2016, in Paris, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Valentin Pasquier)

Kim Kardashian’s Brave Escape from Her Captors

Once the assailants fled her hotel room, Kim Kardashian managed to rub the tape against the bathroom sink to free her hands. Despite still being bound, she hopped down the stairs to locate her friend and stylist, Simone Harouche. After reuniting, they escaped to the balcony and concealed themselves in the bushes, fearing that the robbers might return to finish what they started. While hiding, Kardashian reached out to her mother, Kris Jenner, to seek comfort and safety.

In a trembling voice, according to the Associated Press, she expressed her gratitude to the French police for their assistance, stating that she was finally allowed “to share [her] truth.”

“This is my closure,” Kardashian testified, revealing that this moment was crucial for her in moving forward. “This is me putting this, hopefully, to rest.”

Friend Testifies About Kim’s Fear During the Robbery

Simone Harouche also took the stand during the trial, recalling Kim’s desperate screams from upstairs: “I need to live.” That is what she kept on saying, ‘Take everything. I need to live.’” In a state of panic, Harouche locked herself in a bathroom and sent urgent texts to Kardashian’s sister and bodyguard, saying, “Something is very wrong.” She described Kim as being “beside herself … she just was screaming.” This testimony underscores the traumatic experience both women faced during that terrifying night.

Kim Kardashian Opens Up About Her Phobia After the Robbery

Kim revealed in court that shortly after the Paris robbery, her house in Los Angeles was also targeted in what appeared to be a copycat crime. Without the presence of security guards, she admitted, “I can’t even sleep at night.” Now, she ensures that she has between four to six guards stationed at her home at all times, highlighting the lasting impact of her ordeal on her sense of safety.

“I started to get this phobia of going out,” Kim Kardashian shared candidly. “This experience really changed everything for us.”

Reflecting on the 2016 robbery, she mentioned that her bodyguard was staying in a different hotel at the time, underestimating the safety of her accommodations: “We assumed that if we were in a hotel, it was safe, it was secure.” Paris, once a sanctuary for her, where she would stroll at 3 or 4 a.m. while window shopping and indulging in hot chocolate, had transformed into a source of anxiety. “It always felt really safe,” she expressed, reminiscing about how “it was always a magical place.”

The Identity of the Robbery Suspects

According to French prosecutors, the suspects involved in the robbery—most of whom are in their 60s and 70s—are part of a sophisticated criminal network. Two of the defendants have admitted their presence at the crime scene, with one claiming ignorance about Kardashian’s identity.

Initially, twelve suspects faced charges, but one has since passed away, and another was excused due to health issues. The French media has dubbed them les papys braqueurs — “the grandpa robbers” — yet prosecutors maintain that they are far from harmless retirees.

The accused face severe charges including armed robbery, kidnapping, and membership in a criminal organization, all of which could lead to life sentences if convicted. The trial is anticipated to conclude on May 23, with significant implications for all involved.

How Digital Footprints Led to the Robbery

At the time of the robbery, Kim Kardashian was one of the most recognized women in the world, having perfected a new form of celebrity that was broadcast in real-time to millions of followers. However, during the early hours of October 3, 2016, her visibility became a detrimental factor. Investigators suspect that the assailants tracked Kardashian’s digital footprints—through images, timestamps, and geotags—and exploited them using traditional criminal methods.

Judge David de Pas questioned whether Kardashian inadvertently made herself a target by sharing images of her “jewels of great value.” This assertion was firmly rebutted by her friend, Simone Harouche.

“Just because a woman wears jewelry, that doesn’t make her a target,” Simone stated emphatically. “That’s like saying that because a woman wears a short skirt that she deserves to be raped.” This powerful statement highlights the ongoing discussions about victim-blaming and the societal perceptions surrounding personal safety.

Kim Kardashian, center, accompanied by her mother Kris Jenner, right, leaves the justice palace after testifying, regarding a robbery of millions of dollars in jewels from her Paris hotel room in 2016, in Paris, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Associated Press staff Thomas Adamson, John Leicester, and Nicolas Vaux-Montagny contributed to this report.