Reality star and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian offered a heartfelt statement of forgiveness to the mastermind behind her traumatic 2016 Paris robbery during a dramatic court appearance in France on Tuesday.
Now 44, Kardashian faced Aomar Ait Khedache, the alleged leader of the gang that tied her up and held her at gunpoint while making away with millions of dollars’ worth of jewellery from her luxury apartment during Paris Fashion Week nearly a decade ago.
Despite the trauma she still lives with, Kardashian said she has chosen to forgive Khedache, who had written her a letter of apology after his arrest—though she only recently became aware of it.
“I’m emotional about this because the experience deeply affected my life and the lives of my family,” she told the court. “Back in the United States, I work in criminal justice and I’m studying to be a lawyer. I fight for others to get justice, so I understand what this means.”
Addressing Khedache directly, Kardashian said: “I appreciate the letter. I forgive you. But that doesn’t erase the pain, the fear, or the long-lasting trauma. My life has been forever changed.”
Shortly after her statement, Khedache—who is reportedly deaf and mute—passed a note to Kardashian during a recess. It read: “Your forgiveness is a sunshine that has enlightened me… I am forever grateful.”
Khedache, believed to be one of two men who pointed a gun at Kardashian during the break-in, had also penned an earlier letter, read aloud in court by Judge David De Pas. In it, he expressed deep remorse for his actions, emphasizing he wasn’t seeking forgiveness but wanted to convey his regret.
“After seeing you on a French program and realizing the emotional damage I caused, I felt compelled to write to you,” the letter said. “I am deeply sorry for the pain I caused you, your husband, your children, and everyone who loves you.”
Kardashian gave a harrowing account of the night she believed she would be killed. “I was thrown onto the bathroom floor and had my mouth taped shut. I honestly thought I was going to die,” she said. “I waited for a few minutes in silence, unsure if they would return with weapons. Then I managed to remove the tape and found my stylist, Simone.”
The reality TV star also recalled her fear that her older sister Kourtney, who was nearby, might witness her death.
“I was convinced they would shoot me. I prayed for my mother, my sister, and my best friend, hoping they’d be okay. I didn’t want Kourtney to walk in and see me like that,” she said.
In addition to Khedache, co-defendant Yunice Abbas has come under fire from Kardashian for profiting from the incident. Abbas authored a book titled I Held Up Kim Kardashian, which she condemned in court.
“I was shocked when I learned he wrote a book about it. It’s not just about the jewellery—it was my memories. The watch my late father gave me when I graduated high school was stolen. I can’t get that back. Now he’s profiting off my pain? That’s not right,” she told the court.
Since the incident, Kardashian revealed that she’s been in therapy and taken extensive measures to regain a sense of security.
“I’ve had to restructure my life. I have heightened security around my home—some may see it as extreme, but that’s what helps me sleep at night. That’s what makes me feel safe,” she added.
The trial continues as the court weighs the actions of the accused and the ongoing impact the crime has had on Kardashian’s life.
