Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has named Elon Musk and JK Rowling in a complaint filed with French authorities for alleged “acts of aggravated cyberbullying.”
Nabil Boudi, lawyer for the Paris Olympic gold medalist, he told Variety that the Tesla mogul and Harry Potter author were named in the criminal complaint filed last week with the attorney general’s center against online hate.
The lawsuit was filed against Musk’s social network, X, meaning it was filed against “unknown persons” under French law.
Boudi explained that he guarantees that “the Prosecutor’s Office has complete freedom to investigate against all persons,” including those who shared hate messages under pseudonyms.
“JK Rowling and Elon Musk are named in the lawsuit, among others,” Boudi wrote on X, noting that Donald Trump is also reportedly part of the investigation.
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif names Elon Musk and JK Rowling in cyberbullying lawsuit
Olympic gold medalist’s lawyer files lawsuit against X, names high-profile stars
“Trump tweeted, so regardless of whether or not he is named in our lawsuit, he will inevitably be investigated as part of the process,” he added.
The news comes just days after Khelif took home the gold medal in the women’s 66kg boxing competition.
She emerged victorious after enduring a widespread hate campaign, in which she faced a torrent of harassment on social media because of her gender.
The 25-year-old, who is not a transgender woman and has never identified as such, allegedly has male “XY chromosomes,” which led to her disqualification from the 2023 world championships when she failed unspecified gender eligibility tests administered by the now-banned International Boxing Association.
‘JK Rowling and Elon Musk are named in the lawsuit, among others,’ her lawyer wrote on X
Nabil Boudi said he hopes that “the prosecution will investigate all the people”
In one post, Rowling shared a photo of Khelif’s fight with Italian Angela Carini, accusing the Algerian of being a man who was “taking pleasure in the anguish of a woman he just punched in the head.”
Musk, meanwhile, re-shared swimmer Riley Gaines’ post stating that “men don’t belong in women’s sports.”
“Absolutely,” the Space X boss added.
Meanwhile, Trump simply wrote: “I will keep men out of women’s sports,” alongside a snapshot of Khelif’s fight with Carini.
The backlash against the boxer began when Carini abandoned the fight just 46 seconds after she… He was hit twice, suffered a suspected broken nose and was barely able to throw a punch.
The Italian then fell to her knees, pounded the canvas in frustration and refused to shake Khelif’s hand as she conceded victory.
Meanwhile, Olympic chiefs reaffirmed their decision to allow Khelif… and Taiwanby Lin Yu-ting – to compete after being disqualified from the 2023 world championships.
Shortly after the event, the IOC withdrew the IBA’s status over governance issues and alleged corruption.
“Everyone has the right to practice sport without discrimination,” the IOC said in a statement, criticising “misleading information about two female athletes.”
“The IOC is saddened by the abuse currently being suffered by the two athletes.”
The 25-year-old has been cleared to compete in the women’s category at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Angela Carini abandoned her fight with Khelif after 46 seconds before breaking down in tears.