The harrowing incident in which armed robbers tied up Kim Kardashian and forced her to surrender jewels worth millions has left her traumatized and transformed her life forever. This was revealed by her best friend and fashion stylist, Simone Harouche, during her testimony at a Paris court. Speaking publicly for the first time since the shocking 2016 Paris robbery, Harouche described the terrifying moments that unfolded that fateful night.
In the early hours of the morning, Harouche was jolted from her sleep by the sound of Kardashian's desperate screams. Believing that her friend was being raped, Harouche, 45, hid in the bathroom and attempted to alert authorities while chaos unfolded in their luxury hotel duplex. “I’ve worked for Kim and have been friends with her for a long time,” she recounted. “When I heard her scream, it was a sound I had never heard before. It was pure terror.”
Harouche recalled Kardashian pleading for her life, repeatedly stating, “I have babies and I need to live,” as the robbers threatened her. The fear of losing her children, who were just two and four years old at the time, gripped Harouche, leading her to believe that she might never see them again. “I thought they were coming for me next,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion. “I was terrified for Kim and had no idea what was happening upstairs.”
After the gunmen fled with an estimated $10 million (£7.5 million) worth of jewelry, including an 18.9-carat diamond engagement ring valued at around $4 million (£3 million), Kardashian managed to escape her bindings. She came hopping down the stairs, visibly shaken and wearing a light bathrobe. Harouche described the distressing sight of her friend, stating, “I’ve never seen her like this before. She was screaming and desperate to find safety.”
The traumatic event resulted in both women suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and Harouche noted that Kardashian experienced a significant loss of personal freedom following the incident. “She was very free at the time, and we never thought being in our hotel room would mean fearing for our safety,” Harouche emphasized. She also mentioned that Kardashian sought therapy for an extended period to cope with the aftermath of the robbery.
During her testimony, Harouche addressed the idea that Kardashian might have been targeted due to her flaunting of wealth on social media. She firmly rejected this notion, stating, “Just because a woman wears jewelry doesn’t make her a target. That’s akin to saying a woman wearing a short skirt deserves to be raped.” She defended the right of celebrities to express themselves through fashion without fear of robbery, affirming, “That’s part of the entertainment business.”
A group of suspects, often referred to as the “grandpa robbers” by French media, is currently on trial in Paris for the robbery that occurred during Fashion Week in 2016. The trial involves ten suspects aged between 35 and 78, some of whom are accused of aiding in the robbery's organization. While eight of the accused deny any involvement, Kardashian is expected to attend the trial, prepared to confront her attackers. Her lawyers stated, “She is committed to attending in person and confronting those who attacked her with dignity and courage.”
This case not only highlights the dangers faced by celebrities but also raises questions about safety and privacy in the age of social media. As the trial progresses, the impact of this traumatic event continues to resonate in Kardashian's life and the lives of those closest to her.
