Ariana Grande has been confirmed to star in the 13th season of American Horror Story alongside a host of franchise regulars
American Horror Story season 13 has revealed its star-studded line-up will feature pop sensation Ariana Grande alongside a roster of franchise favourites.
The two-time Grammy Award winner, currently portraying Glinda in the musical films Wicked and its forthcoming sequel, will lead the series with an ensemble cast.
Whilst she’s never featured in the acclaimed horror anthology previously, she has collaborated with its creator Ryan Murphy on the cult favourite series Scream Queens, which launched a decade ago and spanned two seasons.
Grande is joined by several cast members unveiled this Halloween, including Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, Gabourey Sidibe and Leslie Grossman.
The official line-up was revealed on Murphy’s Instagram account through a mysterious video featuring Vera Lynn’s rendition of I’ll Be Seeing You, reports the Express.
American Horror Story’s forthcoming season will follow the Kim Kardashian -fronted Delicate, which broadcast from September 2023 through April 2024.
Fans have since started theorising that the 13th instalment could be its final chapter and revisit a previous narrative.
It’s scheduled to premiere on FX in precisely one year’s time, 31st October, 2026.
Numerous fans have already flocked to social media to express their enthusiasm, with one X user writing: “Ariana Grande will be in AHS season 13!!! What a Halloween treat!”
Another declared: “ariana in AHS alongside all the iconic actresses that carried the series… y’all IM GAGGING-“
One particularly enthusiastic Ariana fan commented: “Ariana Grande is about to be that girl yet again in the next 12 months.
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“She can essentially win an Emmy (Wicked TV special, AHS 13), an Oscar (Wicked), and another Grammy (Brighter Days Ahead MV, any ES deluxe nomination).
“She would only need the Tony to become an EGOT. She’s been that girl and I will be seated for each of her projects.”
Have you already marked the 13th season of American Horror Story in your diary?
American Horror Story season 13 premieres 31st October 2026 on FX.
Kim Kardashian, long at the center of a few conspiracy theories herself, has cosigned one that’s a fan favorite — and also thoroughly debunked.
During the most recent episode of Hulu’s “The Kardashians,” the fashion and beauty mogul professed her belief that the 1969 moon landing, a watershed moment of great American pride, never really happened. She also tried to get her “All’s Fair” co-star Sarah Paulson to drink the Kool-Aid.
“I’m sending you, like, so far a million interviews with both Buzz Aldrin and the other one [Neil Armstrong],” Kardashian told Paulson on the show.
“Yes, do it,” Paulson told the Skims founder, promising to go on her own “massive deep dive.”
Kardashian then went on to cite an interview that’s made the rounds on TikTok wherein she alleged that Buzz Aldrin — who completed the Apollo 11 mission alongside Armstrong and capsule communicator Michael Collins — gave the hoax away. (The going theory, of course, is that famous footage of the mission was actually filmed on a sound stage.)
“So I think it didn’t happen,” Kardashian concluded, adding that Aldrin, 95, has “gotten old and now he, like, slurs.”
Hours after the episode dropped, NASA Acting Administrator Sean Duffy fact-checked the socialite.
“Yes, @KimKardashian, we’ve been to the Moon before… 6 times!” Duffy wrote Thursday on X. “And even better: @NASAArtemis is going back under the leadership of @POTUS.”
“We won the last space race and we will win this one too,” Duffy wrote.
As for Aldrin’s takes on the matter, a 2022 Reuters article debunked one of the most popular clips used to implicate the former astronaut, which was was taken out of very critical context.
In a shortened version of the clip, Conan O’Brien recounts to Aldrin a childhood memory of his family watching the astronauts walk on the moon.
“No, you didn’t,” Aldrin responds, seemingly contradicting O’Brien’s account. Later in the interview, however, Aldrin clarified that the moon landing itself was authentic, but the animated footage broadcast by TV stations at the time was not.
The National Air and Space Museum has explained that there was a $2.3-million camera on board to capture the real-life images that were sent back to Earth.
Nonetheless, Kardashian doubled down on her opinion when a producer on “The Kardashians” probed further.
“For the record, you think that we didn’t walk on the moon?” the producer asked.
“I don’t think we did. I think it was fake,” Kardashian said, adding that she’s seen several videos of Aldrin allegedly disputing the event.
“Why does Buzz Aldrin say it didn’t happen?” she said. “There’s no gravity on the moon. Why is the flag blowing? The shoes that they have in the museum that they wore on the moon is a different print in the photos. Why are there no stars?”
For what it’s worth, there is gravity on the moon, albeit about a sixth of what it is on Earth, give or take. Hence the footage of astronauts bouncing across the lunar surface but not flying off into space. As far as there being no breeze, NASA planned for the lack of one — a rod can be seen holding up the top of flag, because scientists knew the stars and stripes wouldn’t fly without one. And did we mention that Aldrin did not say it didn’t happen? Yes, we did. We did mention that.
To her credit, Kardashian was self-aware enough to add that people were “gonna say I’m crazy no matter what.”
She also encouraged viewers to look for themselves on Tiktok. Keep in mind, though, the accounts that regularly promote the moon-landing conspiracy theory are also fond of other mistaken notions, like saying the Earth is flat and aliens built the pyramids.
Reality TV star and social media influencer Kim Kardashian made a bombshell admission about the future of her career in the spotlight as she revealed she is planning a new path
23:32, 24 Oct 2025Updated 23:32, 24 Oct 2025
Kim Kardashian revealed when she will change careers(Image: PA)
Kim Kardashian has revealed exactly when she will give up her famous life in a bombshell admission. The reality TV queen, 45, has been entertaining fans for years thanks to her shows alongside her famous family.
However, it seems Kim may be ready to take a step back from the limelight. Away from the spotlight, Kim has been busy working on her law career and is currently awaiting the results of her California bar exam.
She has expressed her interest in becoming a lawyer, having already completed a six-year legal apprentice programme. Her hard work has even inspired her acting career as she stars in new series All’s Fair on Disney+.
Kim promoted her acting debut on the Graham Norton Show on Friday night, where she made a surprise admission. Host Graham asked: “You are very nearly qualified aren’t you?”
She replied: “Yes, I am. I took the bar exam in July and I get the results a few days after our premiere. So in two weeks. Everyone please pray for me. I worked really, really hard on this.”
Fellow guest Bryan Cranston asked Kim: “Was this something you always wanted to do? Are you going to actually practice law?” In a surprise admission, Kim revealed: “I hope to practice law. Maybe in like 10 years, I will give up being Kim K and be a lawyer. A trial lawyer. That’s what I really want.”
Kim’s dad Robert Kardashian defended OJ Simpson at his trial when she was 14-years-old. She revealed she was invited by her dad to go to court for one session as he said it was “a piece of history”.
Kim decided to make her health scare public on the season seven premiere of The Kardashians while speaking with sister Kourtney Kardashian. “They found a little aneurysm,” Kim said, before a visibly shocked Kourtney placed her hand over her chest and replied: “Whoa.”
The episode showed Kim at a medical facility and being rolled into an MRI machine as images of her brain appeared on a monitor. In a later scene, the mother-of-four became tearful on the phone, as she asked: “Why the f**k is this happening?”
According to the NHS, an aneurysm is a ballooning of a blood vessel in the brain. If it ruptures, it can lead to severe internal bleeding and be life-threatening.
Small aneurysms that have not ruptured are usually monitored with regular check-ups rather than immediate surgery. Kim has long dealt with autoimmune conditions, including psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
In 2022, she revealed that a rapid 16-pound weight loss to fit Marilyn Monroe’s gown at the Met Gala triggered a psoriasis flare that led to arthritis. She has discussed the psychological toll of her marriage to West on her new series, describing feelings similar to “Stockholm Syndrome,” – a condition where victims form attachments to their abuser.
Kim admitted: “I’m happy it’s over,” but she added: “People think that I have the luxury of walking away. My ex will be in my life no matter what. We have four kids together.”
Kim and Kanye were married from 2014 until 2022 and share four children together – North, 12, Saint, 9, Chicago, 7, and Psalm, 6.
One of the first things Sarah Paulson’s character does in the new trailer for “All’s Fair” is call Kim Kardashian’s character a vulgar slang term for female genitalia. One of the last things she does is call her a “whore lawyer.”
Hulu released the latest look at its upcoming legal drama Tuesday and it appears that, much like contentious divorces, the show will get vicious and personal.
Created by Ryan Murphy, “All’s Fair” will follow a group of female divorce attorneys who leave a male-dominated law firm to start their own practice. According to the synopsis, these “fierce, brilliant, and emotionally complicated” women will “navigate high-stakes breakups, scandalous secrets, and shifting allegiances.”
The trailer shows several women — including those portrayed by Brooke Shields, Elizabeth Berkley and Judith Light — seeking the services of “the best divorce lawyers in town.” Most of the men in the clip, meanwhile, seem to represent the most unsavory examples of their gender.
In addition to Paulson and Kardashian, the show’s all-star cast also includes Naomi Watts, Niecy Nash-Betts, Teyana Taylor, Matthew Noszka and Glenn Close.
“All’s Fair” will mark Kardashian’s second scripted television project since her role in “American Horror Story: Delicate.” While the reality TV star and businesswoman will be playing a fictional attorney in the show, she has also studied to be one in real life. Earlier this year, Kardashian celebrated completing her legal studies with a single-student graduation party.
Instead of attending a traditional law school, Kardashian apprenticed with attorneys for six years under California’s Law Office Study Program. She passed the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam, commonly known as the “baby bar,” in 2021. That doesn’t mean you can retain Kardashian as an attorney, however. She has yet to pass the state bar.
Kardashian’s most recent real-life legal tangos includes filing a lawsuit with her mother, Kris Jenner, against ex-boyfriend Ray J for defamation and false-light publicity.
Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner are taking legal action to snuff out accusations that they are the subjects of a federal criminal racketeering investigation — claims publicized by the former’s ex-boyfriend Ray J.
Attorneys for the “Kardashians” reality stars and businesswomen sued the “One Wish” singer Wednesday for defamation and false light publicity. The 13-page complaint, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, stems from numerous comments Ray J made this year about his old flame and her family in a TMZ documentary and on a Twitch livestream.
“Ray J’s public statements are blatantly false,” the lawsuit says. “No such federal investigation exists; no law enforcement agency has initiated any criminal proceedings or investigations related to racketeering charges against Ms. Kardashian or Ms. Jenner; and no credible evidence whatsoever supports these inflammatory allegations.”
Neither representatives for the “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” alumnae nor Ray J (born Ray Norwood Jr.) immediately responded to requests for comment.
The complaint alleges that Ray J — younger brother to singer-actor Brandy — first publicly suggested the mother-daughter duo’s involvement in a RICO investigation in May 2025, when he appeared in the TMZ documentary “United States vs. Sean Combs: Inside the Diddy Trial.” The TMZ special chronicled the developments in the rap and alcohol-branding mogul’s high-profile federal sex-trafficking case. The 44-year-old singer linked Combs’ case to his ex-girlfriend and her famous family, stating in the special, “If you told me that the Kardashians was being charged for racketeering, I might believe it,” the lawsuit says.
Attorneys for Jenner, 69, and Kardashian, 44, allege Ray J’s comment “was designed to plant the seed in the public mind” that the reality stars are comparable to Combs, who was accused of drugging women, violence against ex-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and orchestrating orgies known as “freakoffs.” “To date, Ray J has not retracted his knowingly false and disparaging statement,” the lawsuit says.
Months after appearing on the TMZ special, Ray J doubled down on his claims during a Twitch livestream with rapper Chrisean Rock in late September. The “Sexy Can I” musician declared last week, “The federal RICO I’m about to drop on Kris and Kim is about to be crazy,” according to court documents. During the livestream Ray J also allegedly said “the feds is coming, there’s nothing I can do about it” and claimed the stars’ supposed RICO case is “worse than Diddy[‘s].”
“I’m talking about, I’m on the news every day. I’m gonna say a lot of s—,” he said about the scale of the RICO case, the complaint says.
Elsewhere in the livestream, he urged his followers: “Anybody that is cool with Kim, they need to tell her now, the rain is coming, the feds is coming.”
Infamously, Kardashian and Ray J were an item in the early 2000s. Though they broke up in 2006, their sex tape was leaked in 2007, the same year “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” premiered on E!
Attorneys for Jenner and Kardashian cast Ray J’s accusations as his latest attempts to stay relevant. The lawsuit alleges he has a history of “making false, sensationalized claims about high-profile individuals” to gain attention, citing an online incident with rapper Sexxy Red. Earlier this year, Ray J hinted he got intimate with the “Sticky” rapper. He apologized for the claim and clarified that they just sat near each other on the same flight. “I went out of control and I said that I slept with Sexxy Red,” he said.
The lawsuit says Jenner and Kardashian — who recently completed her legal training — “suffered reputational harm” that has taken and will continue to take a professional toll. They are seeking a jury trial and an unspecified amount in damages exceeding $35,000.
As news of the lawsuit spread Wednesday, Ray J seemingly stood firm in his accusations. In a video shared to his Instagram story Wednesday, he asserted, “I’m not about to be silenced.” He also said he spoke with Jenner-Kardashian attorney Alex Spiro, who allegedly asked him “crazy questions,” including whether he spoke to “feds.”
“Honestly, like, y’all should be super scared because I’m not backing down. I’m tired of it,” Ray J continued. “The rain is coming, there’s nothing you can do about it.”
In another Instagram story shared Wednesday evening, he announced to followers that he would be going live on Twitch at 2 a.m., “that’s 5 o’clock New York Time, perfect time for ‘The Breakfast Club’ to be stalking my page and see what I’m gonna say.”
Reality TV queen Kim Kardashian has emotionally revealed that someone close to her allegedly put a ‘hit’ on her life in a shocking trailer for the new Kardashian series
23:46, 01 Oct 2025Updated 23:48, 01 Oct 2025
Kim Kardashian has claimed someone put a ‘hit’ on her life
Kim Kardashian has claimed someone close to her put a “hit” on her life in a dramatic admission. The reality TV star, 44, was seen crying as she shared the situation for the first time.
She revealed she learned of the alleged plot through her investigators as the scenes are expected to play out on her family’s reality show. The Kardashian clan have let cameras into their lives once again, but this time things have appeared to take a harrowing turn.
In a trailer for the upcoming series, Kim was left in tears as she opened up on someone wanting her dead. “I got a call from investigators,” she said.
“Someone extremely close to me put a hit out on my life.” Short clips of Kim pacing a room and then being left in tears were show as she made the shocking revelation.
Her younger sister Kendall Jenner appeared as she said: “Everybody’s kind of on edge.” The trailer cut to Kylie Jenner, who was sat speaking to her mum Kris, as she recounted: “I heard footsteps walking into my room.”
It ended with a shot of Kim speaking directly to the camera as she admitted: “I am happy it’s over.” The series is set to feature Kim’s Paris jewel robbery trial as well as brother Rob, who has taken a step away from the spotlight in recent years.
Caitlyn Jenner is also poised to make an appearance as the 75-year-old is seen in the explosive trailer. There are also big changes for the family as they bid farewell to their Hidden Hills mansion, where they filmed Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
They revisited the home for one last time as they prepared for an emotional goodbye. It also left many of the sisters spilling their confessions from life at the property.
The youngest sisters, Kendall and Kylie, admitted to sneaking boys into the home, while Khloe left her family stunned by confessing to having sex in many of the home’s rooms.
The Kardashians teases in their official synopsis: “The Kardashian-Jenners are back, and it feels like old times! Kris, Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, Kendall, and Kylie are diving head-first into the drama, the hustle, and the heart.
“They must revisit their past as they chase passions that push them further than ever before. Through unforgettable moments and deeply personal challenges, the family continues to evolve and redefine their legacy.”
The upcoming series has been branded a “whole different beast” as viewers are warned: “You better watch out.”
It marks the seventh season of The Kardashians and begins on streaming site Hulu on October 23, with new episodes are shown on Thursdays.
Rob was seen sneaking a peak at Liz Hurley’s assets that were on display at the NTAsCredit: PA
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Judge Rinder couldn’t help making a cheeky comment about how good Liz lookedCredit: ITV
The TV presenter, 47, posed beside the actress, 60 – both of whom star in Channel 4’s new reality show The Inheritance – on the red carpet at the glitzy event.
While the duo presented the gong for Best Reality Competition, he couldn’t resist another look before telling Liz: “How marvellous it is that you are defying Newton’s Law of Physics. Well done to you!”
The Good Morning Britain star’s cheeky comment went down well, with the audience erupting into laughter.
Here we reveal the other brazen celebs who only had their own breast intentions at heart…
Morning peak
Outspoken Piers Morgan was caught sneaking a peek down Susanna Reid‘s top while presenting GMB back in 2016.
The presenter was admiring her purple dress, which had a cheeky slit down the front.
Piers quickly realised he’d put his foot in it, admitting: “I was just admiring my co-presenter.
“The camera caught me at a difficult moment… I looked over and looked down and before I knew it…”
He wasn’t the only person to appreciate Susanna’s low cut dress that day, with many viewers praising how she looked.
The Kardashians are leading the world’s A-listers flocking to Venice for Jeff Bezos and his bride Lauren Sanchez’s ultra-rich wedding of the century
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Piers Morgan was spotted having a peek down the top of his co-host Susanna ReidCredit: itv
Billionaire blunder
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Mark Zuckerberg was caught on TV staring at Lauren Sanchez’s breasts – right in front of her now-husband Jeff BezosCredit: EPA
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Fans were quick to notice the ogle and make fun of the Facebook founderCredit: Supplied
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, 40, landed himself in hot water when he was caught staring at fellow tech billionaire Jeff Bezos‘s fiancée’s chest.
The married social media magnate was snapped ogling Lauren Sanchez at President Trump’s inauguration in January this year – while her partner, 61, was stood right next to her.
Lauren, 55, hit headlines for her racy outfit at the swearing in, and it was later revealed her lingerie-style top was a $1,800 Alexander McQueen satin-trimmed bustier.
Mark – who wed Priscilla Chan, 40, in 2012 – raised more eyebrows less than 24 hours later when he ‘liked’ a photo of Lauren’s cleavage on her Instagram.
Fans were quick to mock the Meta founder, with one asking: “Will Zuck lose his Amazon Prime membership?”
Wedding leer
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Jeremy was caught taking a good look at Jess’s breasts in her wedding bikiniCredit: ITV
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The bride and groom weren’t wearing much for their TV weddingCredit: Rex Features
While making a guest appearance on Good Morning Britain for the ‘wedding’ of Love Island stars Jessica Shears, 32, and Dom Lever, 34, telly host Jeremy Kyle was caught gawping at the bride’s breasts.
Simon was snapped having a good look at Amanda’s bosom in 2010Credit: Dave Hogan
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It didn’t look any less innocent from another angleCredit: Rex Features
Simon Cowell, 65, clearly thought his Britain’s Got Talent co-host had talent(s) when he accompanied her to the British Academy Television Awards in 2010.
Amanda Holden, 54, had opted for a strapless gown, and Simon – who was at the time engaged to make-up artist Mezhgan Hussainy, 52 – couldn’t resist a glance at her bust.
The music mogul’s unfortunate moment was caught on camera – from multiple angles.
Though Amanda’s silver and white gown was fairly tame compared to the daring outfits she worn in more recent years.
Ola there!
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James, Lisa and Orla seemed to think the cleavage glance was a great jokeCredit: BackGrid
Dancer James Jordan, 47, was caught having a good look at Lisa Snowden‘s bosom – in a snap captured by his own wife.
The former Strictly Come Dancing professional was cosying up to the telly presenter, 53, at a bash in 2017.
Ola, 42, shared the photo of James gawping at Lisa’s chest on her Instagram story, captioned: “It’s my lovely Lisa Snowdon,” alongside a winking face.
The trio met after Lisa appeared on Strictly back in 2008 when she was partnered with Brendan Cole, 49.
Lady love
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Ellen was snapped having a good inspection of Katy Perry’s breastsCredit: Getty
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The TV host was quick to pull an appreciative face at the singer’s ample cleavageCredit: Getty
It’s not just the famous blokes who appreciate the female form – in these amusing shots TV host Ellen DeGeneres, 67, was caught having a good inspection of Katy Perry’s boobs.
The women were at the Grammy Awards in 2013 when the talk show host was pictured ogling the I Kissed A Girl singer.
Standing arm in arm with her wife Portia de Rossi, 52, Ellen wasn’t shy about sharing her admiration.
Portia appeared to be find her spouse’s antics hilarious, while Ellen tweeted the photo with a birthday message for Katy captioned: “Happy birthday, @KatyPerry! It’s time to bring out the big balloons!”
It didn’t go down too well with fans, with some accusing Ellen of double standards, pointing out if it was a man who made the joke it would be seen as sexist.
Tucci close for comfort
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Stanley was caught taking a peek at Anne’s breasts while promoting their filmCredit: Getty
During filming Anne revealed that her co-star – then married to his now ex-wife Kate Tucci – had become obsessed with her breasts, and he was even spotted having a sly look down her plunging black dress while promoting the film.
Anne joked that Stanley kept elbowing her in the boobs, leading him to reportedly joke that she should stop “flinging those melons around like it’s harvest season”.
The joke doesn’t seem to have bothered either party as they’ve remained bosom buddies and are currently filming The Devil Wears Prada 2.
THE last time I wore a pencil skirt, my brother affectionately told me I looked like Nessa Jenkins from Gavin & Stacey.
Brotherly love — always there to keep your feet firmly on the ground.
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Even Victoria Beckham has given in to the pencil skirt revival and created her own design, with a matching blazer, to revamp power-dressingCredit: Instagram
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Get the look wrong, though, and you will end up looking like Nessa from Gavin & StaceyCredit: BBC
But, sadly, he was right.
My black, knee-length leather skirt and then short brown hair did make me look like the Welsh slot machine worker, minus the tattoos.
Despite my affection for the show and actress Ruth Jones, who plays Nessa, the comment was enough to put me off that look for life.
Nessa is not exactly known for her chic style.
Now, as trends for autumn/winter start to appear, I’ve spotted that curve-clinging pencil skirts are back — from Gucci and Givenchy to high-street favourites Zara and Mango.
And now I’m wondering, has the time come to give the style another whirl?
There was a 12,000 per cent increase in searches on shopping site LTK for “pencil skirts” following the autumn/winter 2025 fashion weeks earlier this year.
This thirst for a more slimline look tells us one thing, if nothing else — many of us, myself included, want to jump off the conveyor belt of loose midi and maxi styles.
Five years on from lockdowns, we’re ready for a bit of wiggle. We want to get dressed up!.
Now, I’m not for one minute suggesting we revert back to peak Noughties pencil skirt trends, when going “out out” was all about looking like a sexy businesswoman.
tried on my teen era Topshop dress from 9 years ago & the results were insane, people say I look like a 50s movie star
Think peroxide blonde Victoria Beckham in her peak Wag era, complete with skintight skirt and peplum boob tube. Or reality stars like Towie original Amy Childs.
But there was a time before this when the pencil skirt was stylish and classy.
THE last time I wore a pencil skirt, my brother affectionately told me I looked like Nessa Jenkins from Gavin & Stacey.
Clemmie Fieldsend, Fashion Editor
Starlets like Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe were big fans of the style, which became hugely popular in the late Fifties, with tucked in blouses and knits to show off their waist and bust.
As Marilyn tottered along the train platform in Some Like It Hot, the tight-fitting style may well have played a part in her trademark wiggle walk.
In the Eighties, pencil skirts were paired with shoulder-padded blazers. Women were making moves in boardrooms and this was power-dressing at its best. Think Melanie Griffith in Working Girl and Joan Collins in Dynasty.
Over the next few decades, the pencil skirt became a workwear uniform.
But recently, aside from wives of world leaders such as Melania Trump or contestants on The Apprentice, it has disappeared from our office attire.
Especially since Covid, you are more likely to wear flats and comfy trousers than a restrictive, uncomfortable and somewhat dated knee-length skirt.
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Recently, Pamela Anderson has been channelling Marilyn Monroe with her retro looks, including her trademark wiggle skirtCredit: GC Images
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Fashion darling Daisy Edgar-Jones wore one of the skirts at Wimbledon and another to a recent eventCredit: Getty
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Back in time to peroxide blonde Victoria Beckham in her peak Wag era, complete with skintight skirt and peplum boob tubeCredit: Getty
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Reality stars like Towie original Amy Childs were also keen to get in on the peak Noughties pencil skirt trendsCredit: Getty
It seems, though, that we have now come full circle. As well as the designers’ offerings, we’ve seen a pregnant Rihanna wear a pencil skirt to a pre-Met Gala bash.
Pamela Anderson has been channelling Marilyn Monroe with her retro looks, including her trademark wiggle skirt.
Even Victoria Beckham has given into the revival and created her own design, with a matching blazer, to revamp power-dressing.
I am convinced that there’s a way to wear this season’s wiggle skirts without looking like a string of sausages
Clemmie Fieldsend, Fashion Editor
We’ll also see the pencil return to screens this season as Kim Kardashian, Naomi Watts and Niecy Nash-Betts star as outrageously fierce and successful lawyers in Disney’s legal drama All’s Fair later on this year.
But after enjoying years of elastic waistbands and roomy skirts, are the rest of us now ready to squeeze into a tummy-sucking number?
Personally, I’ll never get back into a black pleather version again.
I can’t shake my Nessa past and rarely get dolled up enough to dust off my peplum and six-inch heels.
But looking at the styles around on the high street, I am convinced that there’s a way to wear this season’s wiggle skirts without looking like a string of sausages.
The faux-leather options out there are looser and more flattering, and they come in a range of colours.
There are also cosy knitted versions or softer viscose numbers with bold patterns.
I like the idea of wearing one with an oversized blazer and knee-high boots to the office in the autumn, to sharpen up my workwear.
For drinks, I might even plump for a faux-leather number in sage or burgundy, with heels.
But for the majority of the week, I will be sticking with my favourite flats.
And I’m sorry, but you just can’t do a pencil skirt with ballet pumps or brogues without looking like a wally.
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Marilyn Monroe nails the look in 1959 movie Some Like It HotCredit: Getty
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Rihanna wears a pencil skirt to a pre-Met Gala bashCredit: Getty
The “Saturday Night Live” alum’s girlfriend, British model and actor Elsie Hewitt, confirmed the news Wednesday with a cheeky Instagram post.
“Welp now everyone knows we had sex,” the model captioned a carousel of pregnancy photos, images of the pair and memes (including the viral “Love Island” “mamacita” moment).
Davidson, who famously avoids social media and does not have a public Instagram account, has not yet commented on the news.
Hewitt, 29, and Davidson, 31, first sparked dating rumors in March when they were spotted kissing in Palm Beach, Fla., and they’ve reportedly been living together in Brooklyn and Upstate New York. They made their red carpet debut in May at the Blossom Ball in New York City.
Hewitt, who previously dated Jason Sudeikis and Benny Blanco, has modeled for Guess and was a Playboy Playmate. She landed her first television role in 2018 on the series “Turnt” and has since made appearances on rapper Lil Dicky’s sitcom “Dave.”
Since Davidson left “SNL” in 2022, he has pivoted to focus more on stand-up and movies. The comedian — whose high-profile exes include Ariana Grande, Kim Kardashian, Madelyn Cline, Kate Beckinsale, Margaret Qualley, Kaia Gerber and Phoebe Dynevor — has a few projects lined up this year, including a starring role in the horror movie “The Home,” out July 25.
Davidson spent eight seasons on “SNL,” where he served as the show’s “resident young person,” developed his popular recurring character “Chad” and even bought a boat (the Staten Island Ferry) with co-star Colin Jost. He returned to host in 2023 and participated in the 50th anniversary special in February.
Appearing in a Paris court last month, Kim Kardashian revealed the impact of her 2016 robbery as she’s had to make a huge life change to finally feel safe at night.
Kim Kardashian says her life was completely changed by her 2016 robbery(Image: AP)
Traumatised by her 2016 ordeal, Kim Kardashian recently revealed she “can’t sleep” without a security team nearby.
“I thought I was going to die.” That’s how Kim Kardashian described the moment masked intruders tied her up, gagged her and held her at gunpoint inside a luxury Paris hotel.
On the night of October 2nd 2016, five men, disguised as police, stormed into her room during Fashion Week, making off with an estimated $10 million worth of jewelry (£7.5m) – including a $4 million diamond ring gifted by Kim’s then-husband Kanye West – and fleeing by bicycle.
But what they left behind was far more lasting: fear, trauma and a permanent scar on the life of one of the world’s most recognisable women.
“It was terrifying and life-changing and I don’t wish that kind of terror on anyone – to think you could be killed or raped – I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy,” Kim told a Paris court last May.
Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint in 2016 and has opened up about the mental toll of the ordeal last May(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Now, BBC Three delivers a gripping retelling of the heist, featuring never-before-heard witness accounts from friends, police, security experts and journalists in The Kim Kardashian Diamond Heist.
The documentary lays bare the brazen crime, security failures and the devastating emotional aftermath that reshaped Kim’s life – from the incident itself to her confrontation with the men responsible for her trauma.
Nine years after the heist, Kim told the court that “everything changed” after that fateful night. She grew increasingly terrified of going out and said that she employs up to six people to guard her house at night. “I can’t even sleep at night if I know there’s not multiple security,” she said.
In court, Kim faced down ten men accused of planning and carrying out the robbery. Eight of them were ultimately convicted of kidnapping and violent theft, though most received mild sentences due to age or health.
Ringleader Aomar Aït Khedache received an eight-year prison sentence with five-year suspended, while three other defendants – Yunis Abbas, Didier Dubreucq, and Marc-Alexandre Boyer – were sentenced to seven years, also with five years suspended. Due to these suspended sentences, none will serve any time in prison.
Yunis Abbas, 71, wrote a book about the heist in 2021 and had previously served 20 years for burglary. One person was also found guilty on a weapons charge and fined, while two were acquitted.
The Kim Kardashian Diamond Heist also scrutinises serious security lapses – from minimal protection in a high-profile location to the risks of real-time social media. Experts suggest Kim’s lavish Instagram posts may have been a beacon to criminals.
For Kim, it’s time to move forward. “This is my closure and my opportunity to put this to rest after everything I’ve been through,” she told the court, adding that her responsibility was to “tell my truth and hope this doesn’t happen to anyone else.”
Jeremy Vine and Ken Bruce front two new quiz shows this week, promising plenty of mind-bending twists this week. But there are also plenty of dramas for fans of explosive thrills.
New shows will keep everyone entertained this week
Prince William and Princess Anne have shaped modern monarchy in their own way – so it’s no surprise Channel 5 is dedicating two documentaries on the heir to the throne and the Princess Royal this week.
The broadcaster has also promised exciting challenges ahead with Celebrity Puzzling, a brand new puzzle game show in which Jeremy Vine defies household names to the ultimate puzzle game.
Ken Bruce follows a similar theme on Channel 4 with his PopMasterTV heading to the small screen. ITV2, on the other hand, is introducing a ground-breaking comedy with Jordan Gray taking the lead in Transaction. Here are all the shows you need to keep an eye on this week.
Prince William is at the centre of a new documentary this week on Channel 5(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)
Prince William: Passion, Honour…
Saturday, 5
Prince William takes centre stage in this candid and revealing documentary that charts his journey from childhood to the present day. Using rare archival footage and key interviews, it explores his upbringing, relationship with his mother, Princess Diana, and very public fallout with Prince Harry.
Poised to be kind, William is presented not just as a royal, but as a man shaped by loss and duty. It’s a fascinating portrait of a prince on the brink of kingship and a man navigating family, fame and the future.
Busted were among many favourites featured on the stage of Capital’s Summertime Ball this year(Image: GETTY)
With Eurovision favourites Remember Monday also hitting the stage, expect fireworks, sing-alongs and feel-good vibes in one of the UK’s most anticipated music events of the summer.
Back with its third season, The Gilded Age is a deliciously dramatic look at the clash between old money and new ambition in 1880s America.
Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon) has her eyes set on social domination while her husband George (Morgan Spector) risks everything in a financial gamble.
With stunning visuals, iconic returns from Cynthia Nixon and Christine Baranski, and cutthroat stakes, it’s a lavish, addictive drama about legacy, power and what people will do to keep their place in history.
Ken Bruce brings his iconic quiz show to the small screen for Channel 4(Image: PA)
PopMasterTV
Monday, C4
Ken Bruce brings his beloved music quiz to TV, and it’s as charming as ever. Five music buffs face off in a battle of pop trivia, racing through decades of chart history in a fame where memory is everything.
With singalong classics, retro facts and Ken’s dry wit holding it all together, PopMasterTV is a nostalgic gem. Whether you’re a chart nerd of a casual fan, it’s the kind of feel-good, comforting telly that’ll have you shouting answers from the sofa.
Crime Scene Cleaners
Monday, C4
Behind every crime scene lies a brutal mess – and a clean-up crew willing to face the unthinkable. This ten-part series follows real-life trauma cleaners in the UK and US as they scrub, sanitise and support victims’ families through unimaginable loss.
From robberies to gruesome murders, it’s gritty, graphic and gut-wrenching – but also deeply humane. With 24/7 call-outs and extraordinary compassion, Crime Scene Cleaners shines a light on the unsung heroes helping others start over – one horrific job at a time.
Jeremy Vine challenges household names like Carol Vorderman and Sally Lindsay to resolve mind-bending puzzles
Celebrity Puzzling
Tuesday, 5
It’s brains over brawn in this cosy celebrity competition hosted by Jeremy Vine. Team captains Carol Vorderman and Sally Lindsay star with their celeb squads, going head-to-head in battles of logic, memory, wordplay and wit.
With laugh-out-loud moments, surprisingly tense showdowns and appearances from stars like Gareth Malone and Scarlett Moffatt, Celebrity Puzzling is perfect telly for puzzle lovers. It’s gentle, satisfying and the perfect watch to unwind.
Jordan Gray fronts a hilarious new comedy on ITV2, portraying a reluctant nightshift worker(Image: ITV)
Transaction
Tuesday, ITV2
Jordan Gray is a force of nature in this chaotic comedy about Liv, a trans nightshift worker who makes her supermarket shift anything but ordinary.
Hired as a PR stunt after the manager (Nick Frost) makes an offensive remark, Liv quickly realises she’s unsackable – and uses it to cause glorious havoc.
Transaction is sharp, silly and proudly anarchic, with Jordan’s wild charisma driving every scene. It’s messy, loud and defiant – and one of the boldest new British comedies in ages.
Ironheart
Tuesday, Disney+
After the events of Wakanda Forever, Riri Williams takes the MCU baton in Ironheart, a sleek new Marvel series where tech meets magic.
Dominique Throne shines as Riri, an MIT genius caught in a dangerous game with the mysterious Parker Robbins (Anthony Ramos). As tensions rise between science and sorcery, Riri must build more than a super-suit – she has to build her own legacy. Big on action, packed with heart and essential for Phase Five fans, this is Marvel’s next big swing.
The Kim Kardashian Diamond Heist
Wednesday, BBC3
In 2016, Kim Kardashian was tied up at gunpoint in a Paris hotel and robbed of millions in jewels – a crime that shocked the world. This gripping BBC doc unpacks the full story, from police investigations and trial footage to interviews with journalists and those close to the US reality TV star.
Revisiting that terrifying night and the global fallout, this documentary uncovers details that were kept quiet – until now. It’s glossy, revealing and surprisingly emotional.
Amol Rajan reconnects with his Indian roots in a powerful documentary(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Wildstar Films)
Amol Rajan embarks on a moving and personal journey to India’s Maha Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious gathering. Surrounded by millions of pilgrims and extraordinary rituals, he reflects on faith, family and identity – while reconnecting with his birthplace.
This isn’t just a documentary about spectacle; it’s a deep, soulful exploration of belonging and spirituality. Beautifully shot and quietly profound, this one-off hour captures something few travel shows ever do: the emotional pull of home and the power of belief.
Jeremy Allen White reprises his role as Carmy in The Bear’s fourth season(Image: Brentwood Gazette)
The Bear
Thursday, Disney +
Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) is back in the kitchen for season four, and the heat is on. With the restaurant gaining momentum and the stakes rising, Carmy, Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) and Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) face new hurdles that threaten to boil over.
A raw, intense exploration of ambition, grief and grit, The Bear mixes chaos and tenderness with razor-sharp precision. Get ready for more kitchen meltdowns and quiet victories in this unmissable drama.
Will Gi-hun be able to stop the game once and for all?(Image: No Ju-han/Netflix)
The global hit reaches its final act, and Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) is out for justice. Haunted by his past and driven by grief, he sets out to destroy the Game once and for all.
But the elusive Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) has other plans, and the psychological warfare only deepens. Directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, this intense, emotional conclusion delivers shocks, heart and explosive tension as Squid Game cements its place in TV history with an unforgettable final chapter.
Princess Anne shines in a new hour-long documentary(Image: Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)
Princess Anne: Royal Rule Breaker
Friday, 9pm, 5
She’s the monarchy’s steeliest operator and this 90-minute documentary finally gives her her due. Often overlooked but never outdone, Princess Anne has quietly become the Royal Family’s hardest grafter and boldest spirit.
From Olympic glory to diplomatic duty, this film traces her evolution from headstrong teen to pillar of the Crown. Featuring expert insight, archive footage and rare glimpses behind palace doors, it’s a tribute to a woman who plays by her own rules – and rarely puts a foot wrong.
KIM Kardashian stripped off topless while writing on a bed in a very glamorous new photoshoot – but some fans were quick to share their concerns.
The SKIMS founder, 44, took to Instagram this weekend to share a racy video and series of snaps of herself in some risque lingerie before stripping off.
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Kim Kardashian left her 356 million Instagram followers stunned with a topless shootCredit: instagram
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She stripped off in a racy new offeringCredit: instagram
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She went naked apart from some boots and a leather coat covering her modestyCredit: instagram
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She also posed in some racy lingerieCredit: Instagram.com/KimKardashian
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Fans slammed Kim for her use of crossesCredit: Instagram.com/KimKardashian
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Fans were quick to share their complaintsCredit: Instagram.com/KimKardashian
Kim could be seen looking sensational as she laid on a bed in some raunchy lingerie before stripping off for a topless display that left little to the imagination.
Stripping completely naked, Kim covered her modesty with just a leather jacket as she lay on the bed with some high heeled boots on.
“2am nyc time,” she penned in the caption.
She then shared a very sexy video on social media from the same shoot.
Kim failed to add a caption but put the track Crazy by Aerosmith to the montage of clips.
At the start of the video, Kim could be seen sitting on the edge of a bed as the camera zoomed into her chest.
Wearing a black triangle string bikini-style bra, which had crosses on the front, the stunning reality star also rocked several cross necklaces around her neck.
Kim was then seen writhing on the bed as she moved around.
Fans were divided in the comments section, with some besotted with the clip, and others slamming her for the raunchy video and snaps.
Jessica Simpsom commented on the racy display writing: “So good oh myyyyy.”
Kim Kardashian strengthens security for her kids after Kanye West’s unhinged threats as children’s ‘safety is priority’
While one fan wrote: “So hot.”
A second then said: “Kim as we know her! Gorge!”
“Love this look,” penned a third.
While a fourth added: “The most beautiful woman in the entire world.”
A Quick Look at Kim’s Business Empire
SKIMS is just one part of Kim Kardashian’s multi-million dollar business empire. The reality TV star makes money from a multitude of jobs.
The Kardashians on Hulu – 2022 to present
SKIMS – an underwear, loungewear and shapewear brand founded in June 2019
SKKN – skincare and makeup line
Kim has also acted on American Horror Story, received endorsements from numerous companies, and more making her net worth a little above $1 billion
But several others slammed Kim for her “using faith as a fashion symbol”.
“Please don’t use crosses as a symbol for ‘fashion’. It takes away from its meaning,” said one.
“Take off that cross,” demanded another.
A third then said: “Disrespect to the cross.”
While some others said that Kim’s four children would grow up to see the video and be stunned.
“Omg can you imagine this being your mother. Those babies are going to see all of this one day,” said one.
While another reminded her that she is a mother to four kids.
This comes as, at the time of publishing, Kim is still yet to publicly wish her daughter North West a “happy birthday” on social media.
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Kim left fans dividedCredit: instagram
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She looked amazing in the racy shootCredit: instagram
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Kim covered her modesty with one piece of fabricCredit: instagram
Researchers at King’s College London analysed data from over 330,000 Brits, including more than 9,000 people with psoriasis.
They found that abdominal fat was strongly linked to someone’s likelihood of having the condition, particularly for women.
Study author Dr Ravi Ramessur said: “Our research shows that where fat is stored in the body matters when it comes to psoriasis risk.
“Central fat, especially around the waist, seems to play a key role.
“This has important implications for how we identify individuals who may be more likely to develop psoriasis or experience more severe disease, and how we approach prevention and treatment strategies.”
Psoriasis typically begins in someone’s 20s or 50s.
It’s not known what causes the incurable, and therefore chronic, condition.
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Kim discussed her psoriasis journey on her skkn Instagram account in 2019Credit: skkn/Instagram
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Kim has previously described living with psoriasis flare-ups as ‘painful’Credit: Instagram/Kim Kardashian
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Kim on an early season of Keeping Up With The Kardashians showing psoriasis on her legsCredit: E!
It is thought that a problem with the immune system causes the skin cells to replace faster than they should. It is therefore sometimes referred to as an autoimmune disorder.
Dr Ramessur says: “The observed links between central body fat and psoriasis suggest that there may be underlying biological mechanisms contributing to the disease that are not yet fully understood and which warrant further investigation.”
Khloe Kardashian leaks ‘creepy’ video of sister Kim’s legs on Snapchat as fans say ‘this is so strange!’
In light of the new findings, experts said Ozempic-style fat jabs, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, also known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, may help people with psoriasis.
Dr Joel Gelfand, Department of Dermatology and Center for Clinical Sciences in Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, wrote in an accompanying editorial: “The strong relationship between psoriasis and obesity, and the emerging promise of GLP-1 RAs, is a call to action for clinical trials.”
Dr Catherine Smith, senior author, said: “As rates of obesity continue to rise globally, understanding how different patterns of body fat influence chronic inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis is important.”
How to get rid of belly fat
Most of us have tried to shift belly fat at some point – it can be stubborn and takes some hard work.
1. Fill your plate with as many coloured fruits and vegetables as you can.
“These are the fruits and vegetables which pack in nutrients and fibre, but contain very few calories,” Lucy says.
Fibre fills you up and therefore prevents overeating.
2. Don’t overdo the cardio.
“Going hard on runs, cycles and other types ofcardio, is NOT the best way to burn belly fat,” says Lucy.
“It will leave you tired (you’ll be turning to high sugar snacks for energy), it will leave you sore, and it will leave you very hungry.”
3. Instead, lift weights.
“More muscle means more calories burnt at rest, meaning you burn off the food you eat easier than if you had less muscle,” says Lucy.
“Aim to include three 30 to 45 minute resistance-based training sessions each week, ensuring that the weight is challenging and your form is correct.”
4. Eat protein
Protein is the most filling food you can eat (over carbohydrates and fats) and helps with muscle recovery from all that weight training you’ll be doing.
“Look to include a source of protein in every meal and you won’t go too far wrong,” says Lucy, noting chicken breast and lean turkey mince are good sources.
5. Move more generally.
Increase your NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis) by doing things like taking the stairs over the lift and walking home from an earlier train or tube station.
What is psoriasis?
Roughly two per cent of the population – both men and women – are affected by psoriasis.
Prominent figures that deal with the skin problem are model Cara Delevingne and singer Cyndi Lauper.
TV personality Kim Kardashian has also described psoriasis as her “big flaw”, always “hoping for a cure”.
Sadly, there is no cure for psoriasis.
Patients have to learn to deal with the condition by finding a treatment that works for them.
But some have also found that modifying their diet helps.
Treatments
The NHS says: “A wide range of treatments are available for psoriasis, but identifying the most effective one can be difficult.”
Treatments fall into three categories.
First, topical creams and ointments applied to the skin are usually the first option to help with mild psoriasis.
If the condition has spread to the scalp, there are also shampoos and ointments that can help.
Examples include:
Emollients to keep the skin moist and reduce water loss
Steroid creams – which are only prescribable – to calm the skin
Vitamin D analogues to slow the production of skin cells and reduce inflammation
Calcineurin inhibitors to dampen inflammation and the immune system, sometimes in sensitive areas
Coal tar to reduce scales and itchiness
Dithranol to suppress the production of skin cells
May 23 (UPI) — A six-person jury and three judges in Paris convicted eight people in the armed robbery against Kim Kardashian 8 1/2 years ago, but they won’t serve any more jail time.
Two others were acquitted in the trial that began April 28. Another person charged in the case had died and a 12th one was too ill to be tried.
The 44-year-old reality TV star and entrepreneur was gagged, bound with zip ties and robbed at gunpoint of jewelry worth several million dollars on Oct. 3, 2016. At the time, she had rented a luxury residence during Paris Fashion Week.
The 12 men and women were arrested in January 2017.
Seven men and one woman were found guilty on charges ranging from direct involvement in the robbery to lesser complicity in it.
They were sentenced to three to eight years in prison. Counting time served and with sentences mostly or entirely suspended, none will return to jail.
A ninth defendant was found guilty of illegally acquiring and possessing firearms but the panel cleared him of involvement in the robbery. A 10th defendant was acquitted.
“The sentences are fairly lenient,” David De Pas, the presiding judge, said in the ruling.
He cited the advanced age and health issues of many of the defendants as mitigating factors.
But he added: “You did harm.”
Kardashian won’t appeal, according to her lawyer, Leonor Hennerick, outside the courtroom.
“Kim Kardashian is aware of the decision and is satisfied,” Hennerick told reporters. “Justice has been served and she can now move on. She will continue with her rehabilitation project.”
The main suspects were dubbed the “grandpa robbers” in their 60s and 70s. Only two acknowledged their involvement.
The prosecution said they were “seasoned robbers” with extensive criminal records who had carefully prepared their heist. The lawyers also said they showed no empathy for Kardashian or for the night watchman, who was ordered to lead the robbers to her apartment.
They conducted one of the most daring celebrity heists in France’s recent history.
During testimony last month, Kardashian said she feared for her life during the robbery by five masked men.
“I absolutely thought that I was going to die,” Kardashian said in her May 13 testimony. “I kept telling them that I have babies, and that I needed to go home to my babies.”
She said two men entered her room dressed as police officers.
Most of her stolen jewelry was not recovered, including a $4 million diamond engagement ring from her then-husband Kanye West. Kardashian told the court the insurance payout for the jewelry was about $6 million.
The DNA of Aomar Aït Khedache, 69, was found at the scene but he denied accusations that he masterminded the robbery by recruiting accomplices, giving orders and arranging to sell the stolen diamonds in Belgium.
Yunice Abbas, 72, who acted as a lookout, wrote a book about the heist. Abbas’ hands shook from Parkinson‘s disease when he spoke in court
“I forgive you for what had taken place,” Kardashian tearfully told Khedache in court after he apologized to her. “But it doesn’t change the emotion, and the feelings, and the trauma, and the ways that my life is forever changed.”
Defendant Didier Dubreucq, 69, was absent from court several times to undergo chemotherapy for cancer.
PARIS — A Paris court on Friday found the ringleader and seven other people guilty of the robbery of Kim Kardashian at her residence in the French capital in 2016. But none of them will face prison time.
The court acquitted two of the 10 defendants. The sentences read out by the court president ranged from prison terms to fines.
Aomar Aït Khedache, 69, the ringleader, got the stiffest sentence, eight years imprisonment but five of those are suspended. Three others who were accused of the most serious charges got seven years, five of them suspended.
With time already served in pretrial detention, none of those found guilty will go to prison. The trial was heard by a three-judge panel and six jurors.
The chief judge, David De Pas, said the ages of the defendants — the oldest is 79 and some others are in their 60s and 70s — weighed on the court’s decision not to impose harsher sentences that would have sent them to jail. He said the nine years between the robbery and the trial was also taken into account in the sentencing.
Still, he said that Kardashian had been traumatized by the robbery in her hotel.
“You caused harm,” he said. “You caused fear.”
Kardashian, who wasn’t present for the verdict, issued a statement after the ruling was announced.
“I am deeply grateful to the French authorities for pursuing justice in this case,” she said. “The crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family. While I’ll never forget what happened, I believe in the power of growth and accountability and pray for healing for all. I remain committed to advocating for justice, and promoting a fair legal system.”
Khedache arrived at court walking with a stick, his face hidden from cameras. His DNA, found on the bands used to bind Kardashian, was a key breakthrough that helped crack open the case.
Wiretaps captured him giving orders, recruiting accomplices and arranging to sell the diamonds in Belgium. A diamond-encrusted cross, dropped during the escape, was the only piece of jewelry ever recovered.
The crime took place on the night of Oct. 2, 2016, during Paris Fashion Week. The robbers, dressed as police, forced their way into the glamorous Hôtel de Pourtalès, bound Kardashian with zip ties and escaped with her jewelry — a theft that would force celebrities to rethink how they live and protect themselves.
The accused became known in France as “les papys braqueurs,” or the grandpa robbers. Some arrived in court in orthopedic shoes and one leaned on a cane. But prosecutors warned observers not to be fooled.
The defendants faced charges including armed robbery, kidnapping and gang association.
Forgiveness
Khedache had said he was only a foot soldier. He blamed a mysterious “X” or “Ben” — someone prosecutors say never existed.
His lawyer pleaded for clemency, pointing to one of the trial’s most visceral moments — Kardashian’s earlier courtroom encounter with the man accused of orchestrating her ordeal. Though she wasn’t present Friday, her words — and the memory of that moment — still echoed.
“She looked at him when she came, she listened to the letter he had written to her, and then she forgave him,” lawyer Frank Berton told the Associated Press.
Kardashian, typically shielded by security and spectacle, had locked eyes with Khedache as the letter was read aloud.
“I do appreciate the letter, I forgive you,” she said. “But it doesn’t change the feelings and the trauma and the fact that my life was forever changed.” A tabloid crime had become something raw and human.
Khedache on Friday asked for “a thousand pardons,” communicated via a written note in court. Other defendants also used their final words to express remorse.
Paris was once a sanctuary for Kardashian
Kardashian’s testimony earlier this month was the emotional high point. In a packed courtroom, she recounted how she was thrown onto a bed, zip-tied and had a gun pressed to her on the night of the robbery.
“I absolutely did think I was going to die,” she said. “I have babies. I have to make it home. They can take everything. I just have to make it home.”
She was dragged into a marble bathroom and told to stay silent. When the robbers fled, she freed herself by scraping the tape on her wrists off against the sink, then hid with her friend, shaking and barefoot.
She said that Paris had once been her sanctuary — a city she would wander at 3 a.m., window shopping, stopping for hot chocolate. That illusion was shattered.
Privacy became luxury
The robbery echoed far beyond the City of Light. It forced a recalibration of celebrity behavior in the age of Instagram. For years, Kardashian had curated her life like a showroom: geo-tagged, diamond-lit, public by design. But this was the moment the showroom turned into a crime scene. In her words, “People were watching … They knew where I was.”
Afterward, she stopped posting her location in real time. She stripped her social media feed of lavish gifts and vanished from Paris for years. Other stars followed suit. Privacy became luxury.
Even by the standards of France’s famously deliberate legal system, the case took years to reach trial.
Leicester and Adamson write for the Associated Press. Catherine Gaschka contributed to this report.
The reality star appeared in court in Paris on Tuesday (May 13) as a witness in a burglary case dating back to 2016, when she was held up at gunpoint and had millions of dollars’ worth of jewellery taken from her.
Kim took the stand for over four hours, recounting the harrowing ordeal that saw her tied up in her luxury accommodation during Paris Fashion Week.
Cat and Ben caught up on the latest developments with criminologist David Wilson and reporter Saskya Vandoorne, who provided live updates from Assize Court, reports Wales Online.
This Morning viewers were left frustrated on Wednesday (May 14)
“It was a really long and emotional day for Kim Kardashian. She spoke for almost five hours, most of that she did standing up. It was only right at the end that she was visibly drained that she asked to sit down,” Saskya explained.
She continued, highlighting a particularly moving moment: “One of the most emotional moments yesterday, really poignant, was when the alleged mastermind of the robbery, Aomar Ait Khedache, had written a letter to Kim Kardashian, asking her for forgiveness.
“That letter was read out in court, and Kim Kardashian responded to it and said that she forgave him, that she believed in second chances.”
Back at ITV studios, David clarified that the trial was initially scheduled for 2021 but had been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s been a very long nine years for Kim Kardashian, knowing that eventually they were going to get there, and she was gonna have to give this very emotional testimony yesterday,” Ben commented.
Kim Kardashian appeared in court in Paris on Tuesday(Image: GC Images)
The presenter wrapped up by saying: “We’ll carry on keeping an eye on that case as it develops.”
However, viewers of This Morning expressed their frustration as the segment lasted over 15 minutes.
“How much longer is this segment that we’re all clearly not interested in going to last?!” one viewer vented on X (formerly Twitter).
“Oh sweet lord, I’ll see you soon, can’t be doing this,” another chimed in, while a third complained: “Oh God seriously? Move on already, bored now.”
A fourth viewer echoed these sentiments, exclaiming, “Ffs! They’re actually doing a whole segment on this,” while another similarly said, “Let’s hear all the details yet again.” (sic)
It has been almost 3,150 days — more than 8½ years — since Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint in Paris. On Tuesday, she finally gets to testify against the suspects.
By the fall of 2016, the Kim Kardashian West train had been speeding through the celebrity landscape like a bullet for years, running down anyone in its way and leaving everyone else in the dust. She was everything everywhere all at once, all the time. She had been married, then divorced, then hadbabies, then got married again. She broke the internet. And that fame train seemed destined to circle the globe in perpetuity.
Then came Paris Fashion Week. What could go wrong?
In the early-morning hours of Oct. 3, 2016, the Kim K. train suddenly derailed: A party of men entered Kardashian’s two-story Paris pad, armed with guns and zip ties and hunting for jewels. Specifically, Kardashian’s jewels, which she had flaunted on social media.
What happened in the Paris apartment?
Shortly after 2 a.m. local time, Kardashian was reportedly lying in bed clad only in a robe when she heard people stomping up the stairs in her two-story apartment at the Hôtel de Pourtalès. It turned out the men had been directed there by the night concierge, who said he had been threatened at gunpoint. She caught a glimpse of two of the guys, rolled off the bed and tried to call her bodyguard before her phone was taken from her.
Her wrists were zip-tied and duct-taped, and she was grabbed by the ankles — at which point, she told the police, she thought she was going to be raped. Instead, her assailants bound her ankles with duct tape and carried her to the bathtub, as Kardashian screamed for them to take her money and jewelry but please spare her life, because she was at that point the mother of two children.
The men did not speak English but kept saying, “Ring, ring,” she told police. After Kardashian told them where to find the massive diamond — a recent gift from then-husband Kanye West that she had been showing off on social media — they duct-taped her mouth.
Kardashian was left lying helplessly on the bathroom floor as the robbers left with their haul. A friend who was staying in a downstairs bedroom heard the commotion and called the reality star’s bodyguard, who had been out with her sisters Kourtney Kardashian and Kendall Jenner at a club nearby and quickly returned to the hotel.
Did people believe Kardashian’s story?
The internet-posting public did not believe her, at least at first. Self-styled pundits immediately suggested she had staged the whole thing for publicity — as if she couldn’t get that on her own simply by waking up and snapping a selfie. The reality star quickly sued MediaTakeout.com for libel after it said she made up the story, lied about the assault and filed a fraudulent insurance claim. Police, meanwhile, quickly dismissed the notion that Kardashian was lying because she was so badly shaken up, but seriously investigated whether it was an inside job. (The night concierge and the bodyguard are slated to testify at trial.)
The libel lawsuit was settled within weeks, CNN reported, with the website issuing a retraction and acknowledging that Kardashian had in fact been robbed at gunpoint.
When did authorities arrest and charge the suspects?
Arrests came Jan. 10, 2017, when 17 people were taken into custody in multiple raids around Paris. Kardashian’s chauffeur was among those arrested, but he was released after questioning. By 2021, the suspects had been narrowed to 12 people who were slated to stand trial. One suspect, however, has died since being questioned, and another has been excused from the trial because he is 81 and has advanced Alzheimer’s, the BBC reported.
In fact, French media has been referring to the main suspects as the Grandpa Robbers, due to their advanced ages — the eldest defendant is 78. They didn’t really know who Kardashian was at the time of the robbery but were reportedly told she was “a rapper’s wife.” Ten suspects remain on the hook, including one woman. Of those, five went into Kardashian’s apartment during the robbery. The rest are accused of aiding and abetting.
What have the suspects been doing since then?
One suspect, Yunice Abbas, told a French outlet in 2022 that since Kardashian “was throwing money away, I was there to collect it, and that was that. Guilty? No, I don’t care. I don’t care.”
Now 71, Abbas, one of two suspects whose DNA was found at the crime scene, has said he plans to apologize when he’s in court. He also says he was unarmed and acted as a lookout on the ground floor of the hotel.
“I saw one of her shows where she threw her diamond in the pool in that episode of ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians,’” he told Vice in 2022. “I thought, ‘She’s got a lot of money. This lady doesn’t care at all.’”
The alleged mastermind behind the plot, Aomar Ait Khedache, wrote an apology letter to Kardashian from prison in 2017, saying he regretted his actions and realized the psychological damage he caused. “Old Omar” has admitted tying up Kardashian but denies being the brains behind the operation.
The other suspects, including Ait Khedache’s son Harminy, have maintained their innocence.
What happened to the jewelry?
About $6 million worth of jewelry was stolen, or maybe it was $10 million worth, depending on which of the many accounts can be trusted. Kardashian and ex-husband Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, reportedly submitted insurance claims worth $5.6 million. In the 8½ years since the robbery, only one piece has been recovered: a diamond cross on platinum that the suspects lost as they escaped on bicycles. Its value was estimated at just over $33,000, per Vanity Fair.
An 18.8-carat diamond ring — which was a gift to Kardashian from Ye — a yellow-gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, seven Cartier and Hermès bracelets and three gold-and-diamond grills were all in the haul, VF reported. Anything that was unique, like the stone in that diamond ring, has likely been broken down into pieces and resold, a jewelry-theft expert told People in 2016.
What happens next?
Kardashian is set to testify in Paris on Tuesday afternoon — around 5 a.m. in California. She will be questioned first by the judge, according to the New York Post, then by her attorneys, then by the prosecutors, and finally by the defendants’ attorneys.
In mid-April, a Kardashian attorney confirmed to the AP that she would testify at the trial, which started April 28 and is scheduled to run until May 23. But until she appears on the stand, the statement said, the reality mogul is “reserving her testimony for the court and jury and does not wish to elaborate further at this time.”
