Kim Kardashian Returns to Paris to Testify in 2016 Robbery Trial

Kim Kardashian is returning to Paris this week to testify against the men accused of robbing her at gunpoint in 2016 — an ordeal that left her fearing for her life and changed the way celebrities navigate visibility and personal security in the age of social media, The Associated Press reports.

One of the most recognizable public figures in the world, Kardashian is expected to take the stand against 10 men charged with orchestrating the violent heist, which saw masked assailants bind her with zip ties and lock her in a marble bathroom before fleeing with more than $6 million in jewelry.

Her testimony is likely to be the most emotionally charged moment of the trial, which began last month. She is expected to speak in detail about the trauma she endured and how it reshaped her life. Court officials are preparing for tight security and large crowds, with a second courtroom opened for journalists to follow the proceedings via video feed.

Kardashian’s account will revisit the terrifying minutes when the intruders stormed her Paris hotel suite, demanded her engagement ring, and made her fear she would never see her children again.

Originally, 12 suspects were charged in the case. One has since died and another is too ill to attend trial. The group, mostly in their 60s and 70s, has been nicknamed les papys braqueurs — “the grandpa robbers” — by the French press. But authorities say they were anything but harmless, describing them as a well-organized and experienced criminal network.

Two of the men have admitted to being at the scene. Others deny involvement — some even claim they didn’t know who Kardashian was. Investigators argue that the group tracked her using her own social media activity, which often highlighted her location and displayed valuable jewelry.

The robbery became a turning point in Kardashian’s life, and in how celebrities think about public exposure.

Her lawyers have confirmed her willingness to testify and praised the French judicial system, stating that Kardashian hopes the trial proceeds “in an orderly fashion … and with respect for all parties.” Once dismissed in the French press as little more than a reality show personality, she now returns to Paris as a central witness in a high-profile case that has come to symbolize the dangers of hyper-visibility and celebrity in the digital era.

“She is particularly grateful to the French authorities,” her legal team said, “and ready to confront those who attacked her with dignity.”