J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk have both been named in a criminal complaint filed by Algerian boxer Imane Khelif over alleged 'acts of aggravated cyber harassment.'
According to a report from Variety, Khelif has filed a complaint to French authorities for online harassment she experienced during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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Nabil Boudi, the Paris-based attorney representing Khelif, confirmed to Variety that both Musk and Rowling were mentioned in the complaint, which was posted to the anti-online hatred center of the Paris public prosecutor's office on Friday (August 9).
Boudi explained that the lawsuit was filed against X (formerly known as Twitter) to 'ensure that the prosecution has all the latitude to be able to investigate against all people,' including users who may have used pseudonyms to spread hate.
Under French law, filing it against X means that the case was filed against unknown persons, giving Khelif's team leeway on who the suit includes.
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However, the complaint still does mention public figures including Rowling and Musk.
"J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk are named in the lawsuit, among others," Boudi confirmed to Variety. He also added that Donald Trump would be part of the investigation saying, "Trump tweeted, so whether or not he is named in our lawsuit, he will inevitably be looked into as part of the prosecution."
Boudi also clarified that although the complaint mentions some names already he hopes the 'prosecution investigates not only these people but whoever it feels necessary,' adding that they will stand trial if the case goes to court and that it could 'target personalities overseas.'
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Following her match against Italy's Angela Carini, Khelif was subjected to a wave of online hate and misinformation regarding her eligibility to compete in the Olympics' female category for boxing.
At the height of the controversy, Rowling posted a picture from Khelif's bout against Carini to Twitter and accused her of being a man who was 'enjoying the distress of a woman he's just punched in the head.'
As for Musk, the billionaire replied to a post from swimmer Riley Gaines that said 'men don't belong in women's sports,' writing: "Absolutely."
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Former president Trump also posted his own message with a picture from Khelif's fight against Carini writing, "I will keep men out of women's sports!"
Khelif was born as a female and is listed as a female in her passport.
Despite the wave of online hate, the boxer triumphed throughout her Olympic run, winning gold in the women's 66kg final.
Topics: Olympics, JK Rowling, Elon Musk, Imane Khelif
Yasmeen Hamadeh