Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, recently crowned Olympic gold medalist, has filed a criminal complaint in France accusing high-profile figures, including J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk, of aggravated cyber harassment, in new reports from Variety. The lawsuit, lodged with the Paris public prosecutor’s anti-online hatred center, also includes former U.S. President Donald Trump in its scope of investigation.
The complaint centers on a barrage of online abuse Khelif faced following her victory in the women’s 66 kg boxing competition at the 2024 Olympics. Despite clear support from the International Olympic Committee regarding her eligibility, Khelif was subjected to intense scrutiny and derogatory comments, largely driven by misinformation about her gender.
Rowling and Musk’s involvement stems from their social media posts. Rowling, with 14.2 million followers, shared an image from Khelif’s fight, making a controversial claim about her gender. Musk echoed sentiments from swimmer Riley Gaines, sharing a post with the message “Absolutely,” which criticized Khelif’s participation in women’s sports. Trump also posted a critical message accompanied by a fight image.
Paris-based attorney Nabil Boudi confirmed that while the complaint mentions these prominent figures, it seeks a broader investigation into all perpetrators of the online abuse, regardless of their identity or pseudonym. The lawsuit looks at the role of individual authors of the posts rather than the social media platforms themselves, though it highlights a growing seriousness in addressing cyber harassment.
Logan Paul, who initially criticized Khelif but later deleted his post and admitted to potentially spreading misinformation, is also named in the harassment claims. Despite public apologies, Boudi insists that the investigation will proceed based on the evidence of harassment.
Khelif’s coach, Pedro Diaz, described the impact of the cyberbullying on the athlete, underlining how it overshadowed her achievements and affected her focus during the Olympics.
