French authorities have received a criminal complaint naming author J.K. Rowling and X owner Elon Musk as alleged perpetrators of “cyber harassment” targeted at Algerian boxer Imane Khelif.
Paris-based attorney Nabil Boudi confirmed to Variety he – acting on behalf of the Olympic gold medallist – has named Rowling and Musk in the complaint, among other social media users, over “acts of aggravated cyber harassment”.
Throughout Khelif’s Olympic campaign, social media users, including high profile people like Musk and Rowling, attacked Khelif for being a transgender woman competing in the 66kg women’s boxing category. These accusations were untrue: the International Olympic Committee confirmed Khelif is a cisgender woman and passed all eligibility requirements to compete in the Games.
On Friday, the same day Khelif won her Olympic gold medal, the public prosecutor’s office in Paris received a criminal complaint against social media platform X, owned by billionaire Elon Musk.
Speaking to Variety, lawyer Nabil Boudi said the lawsuit filed against the social media platform allows for the prosecution to have “all the latitude to be able to investigate against all people” who may have written hateful messages, including those who used hate speech under pseudonyms.
But the magazine confirmed with Khelif’s attorney that J.K. Rowling, Musk and even Donald Trump would be named in the lawsuit and involved in the investigation, plus “whoever it feels necessary” to investigate. Should the case go to court, those involved will stand trial, Boudi said.
If the lawsuit is successful, those accused could face up to five years in prison, as well as tens of thousands of Euros in fines.
When Italian boxer Angela Caarini bowed out of her fight with Khelif after 46 seconds, misinformation rapidly spread online about Khelif’s gender.
J.K. Rowling wrote to her 14.2 million followers that Khelif was a man “enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head”.
In re-sharing a post that read “men don’t belong in women’s sport”, Elon Musk wrote: “Absolutely.”
Donald Trump also engaged in transphobic remarks targeted at Khelif, declaring on social media: “I will keep men out of women’s sports!”
Professional wrestler Logan Paul wrote in a post that Khelif’s participation in the Games is the “purest form of evil unfolding right before our eyes”. He later deleted the post, admitting in a separate post: “I might be guilty of spreading misinformation.”
Despite the circumstances, Khelif won an Olympic gold medal in the 66kg women’s boxing category on Friday. She took to social media to share her elation.
“From dreams to reality, the journey is gold. Proud to stand at the top for my country and the ones who believed,” Khelif wrote.
“The fight never stops, only gets stronger.”