Algerian Olympic champion Imane Khelif has named both J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk in a criminal complaint filed in France over alleged acts of aggravated cyber harassment acording to an exclusive Variety report.
The complaint was officially filed last Friday with the Paris public prosecutor’s office, focusing on a torrent of online abuse Khelif endured during her journey to win Olympic gold in women’s boxing. Nabil Boudi, Khelif’s Paris-based attorney, confirmed to Variety that the lawsuit specifically mentions the controversial figures J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk, among others, for their alleged roles in escalating the harassment against the boxer.
Khelif’s victory in the 2024 Paris Olympics was overshadowed by a heated and cruel debate regarding her gender eligibility—a debate she had no reason to be part of. Despite being born female and receiving full support from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which affirmed that “scientifically, this is not a man fighting a woman,” Khelif faced relentless attacks online, primarily on X (formerly Twitter).
The situation turned darker when high-profile personalities like Rowling, Musk, and even former U.S. President Donald Trump chimed in. Rowling, with her massive 14.2 million followers, posted a picture from Khelif’s fight, falsely accusing the athlete of being a man “enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head.” Musk echoed similar sentiments, backing a post from swimmer Riley Gaines that stated, “men don’t belong in women’s sports.” Trump also joined in, promising in a truth social post to “keep men out of women’s sports.”
The criminal complaint, while filed against X as an entity under French law, ensures that all individuals who contributed to the online harassment, including those hiding behind pseudonyms, are subject to investigation. According to Boudi, the investigation isn’t just limited to those named in the complaint. “We’re asking that the prosecution investigates not only these people but whoever it feels necessary,” he explained. Should the case proceed to court, those involved could stand trial.
Khelif’s coach, Pedro Diaz, described the impact of the online abuse as devastating. The harassment, he said, deeply affected Khelif and her team during what should have been a celebratory time. Despite the storm of negativity, Diaz encouraged Khelif to stay focused, ultimately leading to her triumph in the ring—a victory that Diaz called the most rewarding of his career.
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