Man Accused Of Robbing Kim Kardashian In 2016 Paris Heist Shifts Blame, Says Stars Should Be 'Less Showy'

One of the men charged with robbing Kim Kardashian shifted the blame onto her, saying crimes like these may not happen if celebrities were “a little less showy” on social media.

Yunis Abbas (spelled ‘Yunice’ in French newspapers) was one of 12 people charged with stealing a small fortune from the reality TV star and influencer during Paris Fashion Week in October 2016. On Saturday, the alleged robber spoke with Vice News, showing no remorse and ultimately victim-blaming Kim Kardashian for the robbery that left her emotionally and mentally scarred.

The interview was part of Vice’s “Crimewave,” a series looking into the break-ins and thefts of social media influencers in recent years, hosted by presenter Tir Dhondy, who traveled to Paris to sit with Abbas.

“I saw one of her shows where she threw her diamond in the pool in that episode of ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians,'” said Abbas in his native French. “I thought, ‘She’s got a lot of money. This lady doesn’t care at all.’"

Abbas described the night of the robbery when he and a handful of others are accused of entering the boutique Hôtel de Pourtalès in Paris’s Madeleine district in the early morning hours of Oct. 3, 2016, after surveying Kardashian’s Instagram and Snapchat posts. There, they allegedly tied up the concierge before stealing the keys to Kardashian's apartment.

Abbas told Vice he waited downstairs while the others headed up to the celebrity’s room, tied her up, and put her in the bathtub at gunpoint.

In his tell-all book “I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian,” the self-professed career criminal alleged he was one of the men who ransacked Kardashian’s apartment at around 2:30 a.m., according to France 24.

Abbas was asked whether he felt guilty about the robbery in his interview with Vice.

“Since she was throwing money away, I was there to collect it, and that was that,” Abbas admitted. “Guilty? No, I don’t care. I don’t care.”

The group of men at the hotel that night were aged between 60 and 72, earning them the moniker “The Grandpa Robbers” in media outlets. Abbas claimed he was caught because he left his DNA behind when overpowering the guard, adding it was easy to track him down because of his criminal record, which he previously told France 24, included his being a “part-time crook.”

The robbers made away with $10 million in jewelry, including Kardashian's $4 million engagement ring from Kanye West.

Only one piece of jewelry was ever recovered; most of it is believed to have been smelted and sold in Belgium.

Though physically unharmed, Kardashian has since discussed the trauma she has faced since the ordeal, including her anxiety and panic attacks, which she has openly discussed on her reality TV series and in sit-down interviews.

Abbas acknowledged there was “no doubt” Kardashian was traumatized by the heist, which was reported to be the largest French heist against a single individual in 20 years.

“You don’t come out of it unscathed,” Abbas stated. “We didn’t expect this. Of course, she must have been traumatized.”

Dhondy asked Abbas what his advice would be to influencers accused of flaunting their wealth across social media.

“They should be a little less showy toward people who can’t afford it,” said Abbas. “For some people, it’s provocative.”

According to Crimewave, the robbery spurred on subsequent (arguably trendsetting) heists committed by criminals who survey their high-profile targets via social media.

Abbas was held for 22 months after admitting his role in the robbery and was allegedly granted release for heart-related health concerns, which is when he penned his tell-all, per France 24. In 2021, a French court ruled Abbas would not be allowed to profit from the book, per In Touch Weekly.

Despite the book, Abbas has also pleaded not guilty to the charges, TMZ reported.

He and 11 others were charged in November and have yet to stand trial.