Behind Kim Kardashian’s 2015 Armenia Visit: Crowds Went Wild, TV Crew Got Scared!

Kim Kardashian’s 2015 visit to Armenia brought thousands of people into the streets of Yerevan, creating scenes so intense that producers of her reality show later described the trip as one of their most frightening experiences.

The extraordinary reception is detailed in “Citizen Kim: The Woman Who Created the Future,” a new biography by Jonathan Van Meter that includes previously unpublished accounts from Kardashian, her sister Khloé and members of the “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” production team.

Farnaz Farjam, an executive producer of “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” recalled being alarmed by the size of the crowds and the intensity of the fans who surrounded the family during their stay.

The reception was unlike anything the crew had encountered while filming the famous sisters. Farjam said some Armenians appeared to view Kardashian as a savior, comparing the excitement surrounding her arrival to the welcome given to the Virgin Mary.

Khloé Kardashian also remembered the chaos outside their hotel, where crowds gathered for hours chanting her sister’s name.

One encounter stood out. An elderly Armenian woman reportedly spent two days waiting outside the hotel for a chance to meet Kim. When she finally reached her, she took Kardashian’s hands and told her she was the best girl in the world.

Kim described the experience as “full-crazy mayhem,” recalling how she stood on the hotel balcony waving to the crowds below. She compared the moment to Eva Perón, Argentina’s former first lady, whose appearances before massive crowds became famous.

The visit took place in April 2015, as Armenians worldwide commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Kardashian traveled with Khloé and her then-husband, rapper Kanye West, drawing international media attention to Armenia.

For the sisters, the trip was also deeply personal. Their late father, Robert Kardashian, was of Armenian descent, and the family had grown up hearing stories about their roots.

During their stay, the Kardashians met with Armenian officials and visited sites connected to the country’s history and culture. Their arrival attracted widespread attention, with thousands of people hoping to see the sisters in person.

Van Meter also examines the Kardashian family’s history, including their ancestors’ journey to California and the connection Robert Kardashian maintained with his Armenian heritage.

Kim returned to Armenia in 2019 and learned more about her family’s past in Gyumri. According to the biography, her ancestors had once been relatively wealthy, owning two horse-drawn carriages and even a swimming pool.

Beyond her visits, Kardashian has used her global platform to speak about the Armenian Genocide and call for international recognition. She has also publicly advocated for Armenians affected by the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, known to Armenians as Artsakh.

The new accounts reveal just how powerful the public reaction was during Kardashian’s first trip to Armenia, where her celebrity status and Armenian ancestry combined to produce a welcome that even her longtime television producers had not anticipated.

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