J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk Named in Criminal Complaint for Alleged Cyber Harassment of Algerian Boxer Imane Khelif
A criminal complaint has been filed with French authorities against J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk, alleging their involvement in “aggravated cyber harassment” against Algerian boxer and recent Olympic gold medalist Imane Khelif. This complaint, filed at the Paris Prosecutor’s Office by Khelif’s attorney, Nabil Boudi, names both high-profile figures among others.
The Paris Prosecutor’s Office confirmed receipt of the complaint and has launched an investigation into multiple counts, including cyber harassment due to gender, public insult because of gender, public incitement to discrimination, and public insult based on origin. The lawsuit, filed against unknown persons under French law, allows for a broad investigation that could include individuals using pseudonyms on social media.
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Khelif, who won the gold medal in the women’s 66-kilogram boxing competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has been at the center of a global controversy regarding her gender eligibility. Despite being born female and not identifying as transgender or intersex, Khelif faced widespread accusations and harassment online, particularly on X/Twitter. The International Olympic Committee supported her, stating that she was not a man fighting a woman, but the attacks persisted.
Among the most prominent figures involved, J.K. Rowling shared a photo from Khelif’s match against Italian boxer Angela Carini, insinuating that Khelif was a man and that she was “enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head.” Elon Musk also joined the fray by endorsing a post from swimmer Riley Gaines, which stated that “men don’t belong in women’s sports.”
Former U.S. President Donald Trump also weighed in, sharing an image from the fight and declaring, “I will keep men out of women’s sports!”
Boudi emphasized that the complaint is not limited to those named but is a call for a thorough investigation into all relevant parties. He also noted that while the lawsuit was filed in France, it could have international implications, potentially involving legal assistance requests to other countries, including the United States.
Other notable figures, such as Logan Paul, also contributed to the online attacks against Khelif. Paul initially posted a tweet condemning Khelif’s participation in the event but later deleted it, admitting that he might have spread misinformation. However, Boudi stated that apologies, even those made directly to Khelif, would not alter the course of the investigation.
The complaint targets the authors of the harmful social media posts rather than the platforms themselves, with Boudi noting that it’s up to lawmakers to impose sanctions on these platforms. He also highlighted that judicial authorities are increasingly taking cyber harassment cases seriously, with the potential for prison sentences in severe cases.
This case underscores the growing concern over online harassment, particularly against high-profile individuals, and raises questions about accountability and the role of social media in amplifying harmful rhetoric.
