The Algerian boxer's lawyer announced on Tuesday, August 13, that a complaint had been filed against the two American public figures.
Imane Khelif won the gold medal in the ring at Roland-Garros in Paris last Friday, August 9. Now, on legal grounds, the Algerian boxer will fight after filing a complaint on Tuesday, August 13, as announced by her lawyer. She is bringing proceedings against X for “acts of aggravated cyber-harassment”.
Among the main people targeted are Elon Musk, the head of Tesla, X and Space X, and JK Rowling, the author of the bestseller Harry Potter. YouTuber and now American boxer Logan Paul is also on the list.
A wave of cyberbullying on social media
These influential personalities reacted to Imane Khelif's performances as well as her presence in the women's competition. The Algerian boxer had been at the center of a wave of hate on social media following her first fight at the Paris Olympics where she “hurt a lot” an Italian who succumbed on the spot. Many netizens questioned her femininity, but the matter took a turn when these messages were sent by billionaires and politicians around the world.
Elon Musk, who is named in the lawsuit, shared a post by American swimmer Riley Gaines saying “men have no business being in women's sports.” The billionaire with 194.4 million followers on his X social network added: “Absolutely.”
An investigation in France that may target foreigners like Donald Trump or JK Rowling
JK Rowling, often accused of transphobia for years, spoke about Imane Khelif in a message published on her social networks. She says: “Someone with a sexual development disorder cannot change the way they were born, but they can choose not to cheat, they can choose not to take medals from women, they can choose not to cause injury.”
Donald Trump could also be subpoenaed at trial because of the messages sent against the boxer. The former US president claimed he would “keep men out of women's sports” if re-elected.
On Wednesday, August 14, the Paris Prosecutor's Office, contacted by AFP, announced that an investigation had been opened. The investigation was opened by the National Center for Fighting Uri Online for “cyber harassment because of sex, public insult because of sex, public challenge to discrimination and public insult because of origin,” the prosecutor's office said.
In an interview given to him VarietyImane Khelif's lawyer, Me Boudi, stated that the investigation could be carried out despite its international dimension. “The prosecutor's office responsible for combating hate speech online has the possibility to make requests for mutual legal assistance with other countries.” There are agreements between the French office for combating online hate speech and the American one.