In the universe of celebrity news, few events have been as horrifying or strange as the evening Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint during Paris Fashion Week in 2016. The reality television star turned billionaire businesswoman was bound and taken hostage by a gang of men dressed as police officers, who stole almost ten million dollars’ worth of jewellery. Among them was Yunice Abbas and almost five years on, he did the unexpected. He published a book.
Released in 2021, J’ai Séquestré Kim Kardashian (to translate as I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian) is a 248-page memoir co-written with French author Thierry Niemen. Rather than a penitent memoir, the book tries to recount the robbery from the point of view of a man who says he had no idea who Kim was until the crime. It’s an unusual and unnerving exploration into the mind of a criminal who was involved in one of the most infamous robberies of the decade.
The Crime That Shocked the World
The theft occurred in a luxury private apartment in Paris, where Kardashian was residing during Fashion Week. The intruders, who disguised themselves as police officers, forced their way in, tied up the concierge, and accessed her suite. Kim, by herself in her room, was tied up, gagged, and held hostage at gunpoint. The burglars made away with her jewellery, including her diamond engagement ring from Kanye West.
Abbas, who claims he was downstairs waiting during the robbery, had what he calls a “support” role. In an interview with Paris Match in 2021, he said he had no idea the woman upstairs was Kim Kardashian. “My friend just told me she was the wife of some well-known rapper. I did not want to know anything else,” he stated. That same lack of interest would come back to haunt him in his ill-fated choice to release a book.
From Criminal to Author
I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian takes us through the process blow by blow from Abbas’s point of view. He discusses how the gig was organized, how the burglars worked with no violence involved, and how their true selves finally came unglued. Abbas even opens up about bits of his life, such as his childhood and financial desperation. Some might suggest this humanizes him, though others feel that it’s an ill-fated attempt to monetize a horrific experience.
As reported by [NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/kim-kardashian-paris-robbery-trial-testimony-rcna147864), Abbas testified in the 2025 trial that he did not select the title of the book and minimized his participation, explaining he never actually entered Kardashian’s bedroom. Nevertheless, the French justice system held him responsible for his part in the robbery. He now regrets it, admitting the incident has continued to make him feel guilty.
Public Reaction and Where to Find the Book
Despite all the hype over the book, the response has been tepid at best. On sale on Amazon Kim Kardashian, has had divided reviews. Some readers consider it mildly revealing, while others have branded it exploitative and empty. One review even warns readers with the frank statement: “Nothing interesting in the book. I strongly advise against you.”
Kim Kardashian herself has not publicly reacted to the publication. Rather, her attention remains focused on criminal justice reform, entrepreneurial pursuits such as SKIMS, and her attempt to acquire a law degree. The 2016 robbery marked a watershed for her private security and public image — an incident that shifted her priorities and solidified her resolve.
In an era when criminals can cash in on their fame, Abbas’s book raises uncomfortable questions. Is it right for a person to tell their part in a traumatic experience and profit from it? Or does public exposure of such a tale serve a greater cultural and warning function?
So far, I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian is both an enigma and a scandal, a peek at a crime that revolutionized celebrity culture forever.
