Musk and Rowling Named In Khelif Cyberbullying Lawsuit
Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif has filed a lawsuit in France, targeting high-profile figures such as Elon Musk and J.K. Rowling for alleged cyberbullying during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The lawsuit comes after Khelif faced intense online harassment, largely fueled by controversy over her gender eligibility in the women's boxing competition.
What caused the lawsuit?
Khelif, who won gold in the women's 66-kilogram boxing category at the olympics, was at the centre of a heated debate after her eligibility had been questioned when she was disqualified from the 2023 World Championships by the International Boxing Association (IBA) over unspecified gender tests, despite being cleared to compete by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The IOC strongly defended her right to participate, stating, "Every person has the right to practise sport without discrimination."
The online abuse escalated after Italian boxer Angela Carini abandoned her bout against Khelif just 46 seconds into the match, which left Carini with a suspected broken nose.
The incident sparked a wave of criticism on social media, with Rowling accusing Khelif of being a man who was "enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head."
Musk also weighed in, sharing a post from swimmer Riley Gaines that claimed, "men don’t belong in women’s sports," and echoed the sentiment with his own endorsement.
Attorney confirms lawsuit mentions Musk and Rowling
Khelif’s attorney, Nabil Boudi, confirmed that the lawsuit mentions Musk and Rowling, who tweeted in response to the controversy.
The complaint was filed with the National Center for the Fight Against Online Hatred in Paris, which has since launched an investigation into the cyberbullying allegations.
The Paris prosecutor's office has begun investigating the cyberbullying complaints, focusing on messages posted from within France. Legal experts suggest that prosecution of figures like Musk and Rowling, who reside outside France, may be unlikely unless international cooperation is sought.
Despite the backlash, Khelif remained resolute, stating, "I am fully qualified to take part in this competition. I am a woman like any other woman. I was born a woman. I have lived as a woman. I competed as a woman—there is no doubt about that."
Her coach, Pedro Diaz, revealed that the online attacks had a significant impact on Khelif but praised her determination, noting that winning the gold medal was "the most rewarding victory" of his coaching career.
