Elon Musk, JK Rowling named in Imane Khelif's cyberbulling lawsuit
Imane Khelif, an Algerian boxer and Olympic gold medalist, has filed a lawsuit against Tesla CEO Elon Musk and author JK Rowling for alleged "acts of aggravated cyber harassment." The suit was submitted to the anti-online hatred center of the Paris public prosecutor's office by Nabil Boudi, Khelif's Paris-based attorney. The complaint also includes former US President Donald Trump among the accused.
Olympic victory marred by controversy
Khelif secured the Olympic gold medal in the women's 66kg boxing competition at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. However, her triumph was marred by a global controversy over her gender eligibility. Despite being born female and not identifying as transgender or intersex, Khelif faced widespread accusations and abuse on social media about her gender. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) supported Khelif, stating "scientifically, this is not a man fighting a woman."
Rowling, Musk, Trump accused of fueling gender controversy
Rowling, Musk, and Trump are accused of contributing to the gender controversy surrounding Khelif's Olympic victory. Rowling shared an image from Khelif's fight with Italian boxer Angela Carini on social media, implying that Khelif was a man, "enjoying the distress of a woman he's just punched in the head." Musk endorsed a post stating "men don't belong in women's sports," while Trump shared a similar sentiment with an image from the same fight.
Attorney seeks investigation into all involved parties
Boudi clarified that while Rowling, Musk, and Trump are named in the lawsuit, they want all relevant parties to be investigated. If the case proceeds to court, those named will face trial. He also indicated that the lawsuit could target personalities overseas, as the prosecutor's office combating online hate speech can seek mutual legal assistance with other countries.
Coach reveals impact of cyberbullying on Khelif
Khelif's coach, Pedro Diaz, disclosed that the cyberbullying Khelif experienced during her Olympic journey "incredibly affected her" and "everyone around her." He advised Khelif to avoid social media so she "wouldn't lose her focus on winning the gold medal." Despite the controversy, Khelif became the first Algerian woman to win an Olympic gold in boxing.
