Kaylah Walton
Kim Kardashian has appeared in a Paris courtroom to testify against those accused of robbing her at gunpoint in 2016, an incident that significantly impacted her life and transformed perceptions of celebrity safety in the social media era.
This marks the first occasion Kardashian has come face-to-face with the alleged perpetrators since that terrifying night, during which she pleaded for her life while masked assailants bound her with zip ties and made off with over $6 million worth of jewelry.
Kardashian’s testimony is anticipated to be a deeply emotional aspect of a trial that has drawn considerable attention in France, where the suspects—mostly elderly men in their 60s and 70s—have been referred to as “the grandpa robbers.”
Officials claim that the group monitored her movements through her Instagram activity, with two defendants acknowledging their presence at the scene.
Her legal team states that she is prepared to confront her attackers with grace.
Earlier in the proceedings, Kardashian’s childhood friend and stylist recounted hearing the celebrity cry out for her life during the robbery that altered how the world perceives fame in the digital landscape.
Simone Harouche, who was sharing a suite with Kardashian during Fashion Week, testified that she heard a frightened Kardashian exclaim, “‘I have kids and I need to survive.’ She kept repeating, ‘Take everything. I just want to live.'”
“I feared for her safety and thought the worst might happen,” Harouche recounted, emphasizing the terror in Kardashian’s voice.
As one of the most recognized individuals globally, Kardashian is set to confront ten men accused of organizing the robbery—a crime that profoundly unsettled the fashion community and redefined the hazards associated with being visible, affluent, and female in the age of Instagram.
Harouche remarked that the trauma “forever” changed her long-time friend, stripping away a fundamental human right: liberty.
“Her lifestyle is entirely different now,” she elaborated. “She’s no longer able to go out on her own; the loss of that freedom is devastating.”
Kardashian’s testimony is expected to outline how the assailants demanded her ring, leaving her with a lingering fear of never seeing her children again.
Lead judge David De Pas questioned Harouche about whether Kardashian’s choice to share images of “valuable jewelry” made her a target.
“No,” she responded firmly. “A woman wearing jewelry is not an invitation for crime; it’s akin to suggesting that wearing a short skirt makes one deserving of assault.”
Twelve individuals were originally charged; one has passed away, and another has been excused due to health issues. The majority are older men, referred to as “the grandpa robbers,” and authorities label them as a skilled and organized criminal ring.
Two of the defendants have admitted to being present; others deny any involvement, with one claiming ignorance of Kardashian’s identity. However, police assert that the group tracked her through social media, where she often showcased her jewelry, hotel locations, and itinerary, revealing her vulnerabilities.
The heist turned Kardashian into a cautionary tale about overexposure. At that time, she was at the peak of her influence as a fashion icon, social media innovator, and one of the world’s most photographed women.
Following the robbery, fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld criticized her for being “too public” with her wealth. Nonetheless, as more information emerged, public sentiment began to shift, and the image of Kardashian—alone, tied up, and pleading—changed her perception in society.
In the wake of the crime, Kardashian retreated from the limelight, developing intense anxiety and later revealing symptoms of agoraphobia.
“I dreaded going out,” she explained in a 2021 interview. “I was paranoid about people knowing my location… I experienced overwhelming anxiety.”
She later recognized that her constant sharing contributed to her vulnerability: “People were observing my every move. They knew what I possessed and where I was going.”
Harouche, who concealed herself in a bathroom during the robbery, also experienced trauma, seeking help for post-traumatic stress and departing from celebrity styling to pursue interior design.
“The experience was immensely stressful; it made me wary of being around public figures,” she expressed.
She recounted going to bed before the robbery while Kardashian hosted friends upstairs. She was jolted awake by screams.
From her locked bathroom, she sent a message to Kardashian’s sister Kourtney and Kardashian’s bodyguard, indicating that “something was seriously wrong,” according to her testimony.
Later, after the robbers left, she heard Kardashian hopping down the stairs, her ankles still bound, calling for her.
“She was beside herself,” Harouche recalled. “She was just screaming.”
