If you've been anywhere near social media in the past few days, you've heard that Kim Kardashian-West, America's Sweetheart, got robbed at gunpoint in her Paris home on October 3rd. For some, this incident was irrelevant and a waste of a news day. However, if you're any bit of a person at all, you realize that a mother, daughter and a wife, was tied and bound in her home, then robbed of a few of her beloved jeweled belongings (including her engagement ring, that was worth about $4 million dollars), at gunpoint. This is a terrifying ordeal for anyone, and Kim is making sure that this event is nowhere near close to happening again.
For anyone who thought this incident was fake in order to gain attention, it didn't take long for the media to prove you wrong. More information is surfacing on the who, the what, the when, the where, and the why. And if you aren't quite sure what happened, here's a quick once-over:
Why wasn't her security guard watching her and keeping her safe?
As Kim was safely in her apartment, her security guard went on to protect her sisters who decided to go out that night.
Who did it and how did they surpass security in the hotel where she stayed?
It is suspected that the suspects were following Kim for days, disguised as paparazzi, later dressing as French policemen in order to get past the concierge and the doorman, casually strolling up to Kim’s apartment to commit the crime.
Where did all of this happen and does it have any relevance to the story?
This hotel absolutely does. The hotel where the crime took place has been a temporary home to a hand-selected group of A-list celebrities. This includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Kanye West, and, obviously, Kim Kardashian-West. This hotel is only accessed through word of mouth, including a special code to their website in order to book a stay. The particular security and privacy for this hotel is especially expected due to the status of the guests. Kardashian and Kanye had been staying there on and off as a partial-home for years, and therefore the expected security would have never lead to this incident.
Finally, the question everyone is really asking: what will happen now? As of now, a representative of the family has spoken, stating: “When something like this happens, everything changes. Everything will change. It changes the whole family — how and where they travel.” This will mean the whole family will beef up a more special security team, slow down their social media, and lessen their public appearances for now. But is the representative right? Will this change the way the Kardashians keep up their public appearances forever?
This event will possibly change the platform that built Kim's public image. This is how she interacts with fans: she documents her personal life on social media, which is what the public has craved since day one of her family's show, "Keeping Up With The Kardashians." Speaking of which, the show may also be majorly effected. As of now, the show is on, "indefinite hold," due to the safety measures the family is taking to ensure they stay safe.
As for the rest of the Kardashian and Jenner clan, their image may also be altered. Due to the intense changes to be made for the safety of the family, more drops in social media usage and appearances will be made. Like Kim, the rest of the family uses social media to connect with fans and to keep their name in the public eye. With this being lessened, will we lose touch with the family altogether?
The fate of the Kardashian family's public image may be in question, but one thing is for sure: Kim should not feel responsible for this event. Some have blamed Kim, stating that it is her fault for the robbery. If she hadn't been posting her jewelry on social media, she would not have encouraged the thieves to take her belongings. Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld jumped on board stating: “You cannot display your wealth and then be surprised that some people want to share it with you.” There is absolutely no reason anyone deserves to experience such a terrifying and life-threatening event such as being robbed at gunpoint.
As a fan, I am disappointed that less of her will be in the public eye, but as a person I encourage the safety of another person who is at a known-risk. I think I can speak for every fan when I say that we are all hoping for her safe recovery.
