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It sounds like the plot of a Liam Neeson film – a beautiful Hollywood starlet attacked in her lavish Parisian pad by armed thugs, who made off with jewels worth $10 million before escaping.
But this is what happened to Kim Kardashian on Monday in Paris.
Read more: Kim Kardashian robbed at gunpoint in hotel room
The 35-year-old mom of two was tied up and gagged while a group of masked men raided her supposedly secure apartment. She managed to break free of her bonds in the aftermath, according to reports, and call her husband, Kanye West – who was performing in New York at the time.
Read more: Kanye West reschedules tour dates after Kim Kardashian’s robbery horror
Unsurprisingly, Kim's horrific ordeal unleashed a social media frenzy. Once again, the Keeping Up With The Kardashians TV star "broke the internet".
Critics have been quick to point out that the entire situation is perfect fodder for a reality show that seems to grow more contrived with every episode.
"There's a reason why half the world doesn't believe it [the story]. Because it's too good to be true," NY Daily News columnist Gersh Kuntzman writes.
"When it comes to the Kardashians, the media simply can't keep up. Indeed, our normal skepticism and usual methods for checking basic facts disappear.
"The entire story so far is based on an unnamed Kardashian 'rep' and paraphrased synopses from French authorities," he points out.
Private investigator Patricia D’Orsa-Dijamco expressed her doubts to Fox News.
“How did Kardashian free herself from being tied up in the bathroom?" she asked. "Or who found Kardashian in the hotel room or bathroom? Where was her security and hotel security personnel or hotel security cameras?
“If this was a publicity stunt, she could be in big trouble for making a false police report. Does 'Ryan Lochte' sound familiar?”
Meanwhile, sources close to the star reveal that she believes she made herself a target for the robbery by flaunting her jewels on her social media accounts.
"Kim’s in shock and blaming herself," an insider told People.com. "She’s tearing herself up that she Snapchatted the ring so much and wore it all the time. This incident is making her question everything – how she dresses, what she does."
Conflicting reports aside, it's certainly worth noting that none of the social-media obsessed Kardashian sisters or their Momager Kris have posted anything at all in the wake of Kim's attack.
The only member of Kim's family who's spoken out is Kim's former step-dad, Caitlyn Jenner.
The I Am Cait star took to Instagram on Tuesday and wrote: "Love my girl! After hearing the full story, I'm so thankful she's okay. It's a reminder for us all to be careful in the uncertainty of this world."
Love my girl! After hearing the full story, I'm so thankful she's okay. It's a reminder for us all to be careful in the uncertainty of this world A photo posted by Caitlyn Jenner (@caitlynjenner) on
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