Elon Musk and J.K. Rowling Named in Cyberbullying Lawsuit by Olympic Boxer

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who caused uproar at the Paris Olympics for entering the women’s boxing contest, has filed a cyber harassment lawsuit with French authorities and named Elon Musk and JK Rowling among his antagonists. Khelif, who appears male, won the gold medal in the women’s event thanks to rules that allow transgender individuals to choose which category they wish to compete in. In one infamous moment of his Olympic campaign, Khelif’s opponent withdrew after only a few punches, saying she had never been hit so hard. She suffered a broken nose. 

Online outrage from women’s rights campaigners followed, with many accusing Olympic organizers of sanctioning male violence against women. Among those to criticize Khelif’s inclusion in the women’s contest were Harry Potter author JK Rowling, who has emerged as one of the most high-profile critics of radical gender ideology. 

On Twitter, Rowling asked Olympic fans to explain if they were “OK with a man beating a woman in public” for their entertainment. “This is men reveling in their power over women,” she declared. Elon Musk retweeted a post stating, “Men don’t belong in women’s sports,” adding the word “Absolutely.” Donald Trump posted, “I will keep men out of women’s sports.” Paris-based attorney Nabil Boudi, representing Khelif, said former President Trump may be added to the lawsuit in due course. 

A row surrounded Khelif’s inclusion in the women’s contest partly because of his disqualification from the International Boxing Association (IBA) women’s World Championship last year after he reportedly failed the “gender eligibility test.” The International Olympic Committee said the IBA had failed to provide sufficient evidence supporting its conclusions and, therefore, ruled that Khelif qualified for the Paris competition. 

Potential punishments for those found guilty of cyberbullying offenses in France include prison sentences and fines. Two to five years in jail are possible, and if online hate charges are added, fines can reach up to around $300,000. Khelif said he is pursuing the case to “‘fight for justice, dignity, and honor.”