French Reality Star Nabilla Charged With Attempted Murder in Boyfriend's Stabbing

LONDON— -- A French reality-TV star was charged this weekend with attempted murder in connection with her boyfriend’s stabbing.

According to police, Firemen were called to Nabilla Benattia’s Paris apartment late Thursday evening, where they found her boyfriend, TV star Thomas Vergara, with a severe knife injury to the chest, Agence France-Presse reported.

Nabilla, as she is commonly known, was held in custody after Vergara was rushed to a hospital, where he is recovering from his injuries. Authorities say his injuries were not life-threatening.

Now dubbed “Nabilla Gate,” the ongoing investigation is causing a stir on social media. Some of her fans created the hashtag #FreeNabilla, which became the number one trending topic on Twitter in France. In the past, Nabilla said several times her ambition was to be like Kim Kardashian.

Nabilla, who denied through her lawyer any wrongdoing, said today she acted in self-defense and was scared of dying because of her boyfriend’s fits of rage, according to French radio station RTL.

ABC News has been unable to reach her lawyer, Martin Desrues.

In a news release Friday, Desrues said Nabilla was doing “well,” although she was in shock and worried about Vergara’s health. “We ask you to respect the family circle in this difficult time and not disrupt the investigation,” Desrues said.

French media reported today she was also looking into hiring a second lawyer, specialized in murder cases.

Nabilla, 22, rose to fame last year when she said, “Hello? I mean hello?” during a show called “The Angels of Reality TV."

Swiss-born, she is known for her admiration of Kim Kardashian, starred in “The Angels of Reality TV,” and recently modeled for Jean-Paul Gaultier.

The Franco-Algerian model is under arrest at a women’s prison in Versailles. She could face 30 years behind bars if found guilty.