Kim Kardashian is looking back candidly on her pre-fame years, and admitting she once went to surprising lengths to get noticed. During a recent podcast appearance, the reality TV star shared a story from the early 2000s that she now laughs at.
She described how desperation and ambition briefly collided in a paparazzi-heavy moment involving Britney Spears. While Kim has since become one of the most photographed people in the world, she says there was a time when attention felt just out of reach.
Kim Kardashian confesses she once ‘scammed’ paps using Britney Spears’ name
During a recent appearance on Khloe Kardashian’s podcast, “Khloé in Wonder Land,” Kim reflected on a night out in New York City that she claims changed her relationship with fame, at least temporarily. She said that at the time, becoming famous was her main goal, explaining that attention from photographers felt like validation.
Kim recalled dining with longtime friend Jonathan Cheban when they learned that Britney Spears was staying at a hotel nearby. According to Kim, paparazzi were already camped outside, waiting for the pop star. While she and Cheban were struggling to even find transportation, another diner offered them a ride in a Rolls-Royce. This detail, Kim says, became part of the plan.
She claimed Cheban suggested they sit in the back seat so it would appear they were being chauffeured. This would give the impression that they were important enough to attract attention. When they arrived at the hotel, Kim says photographers immediately began shouting her name and asking whether she was there to see Spears.
Rather than correcting the assumption, Kim admitted she stayed silent and went along with it. She and Cheban reportedly ducked into a phone booth inside the hotel, unsure of where to go next. The duo waited until they felt enough buzz had been created. When they eventually left, she said paparazzi were eager for details, calling out questions about Spears as cameras flashed.
Kim claimed they slipped away quietly afterward, believing photographers wouldn’t bother documenting their exit. In her words, it felt like they had “scammed the system.” She remembered feeling triumphant when photos from the encounter ended up widely circulated. “And it was on every cover, and we thought we were killing it,” Kim shared.
Originally reported by Zahrah Patel on RealityTea.
