Imane Khelif, an Algerian Olympic boxer, has filed a cyber harassment complaint against J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk

Imane Khelif, an Algerian Olympic champion, has accused J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk of aggravated cyber harassment in a criminal complaint that she has filed in France, according to an exclusive report by Variety.

Last Friday, the Paris public prosecutor’s office received the complaint, which pertains to the unrelenting online harassment that Khelif encountered during her pursuit of Olympic gold in women’s boxing. The lawsuit specifically specifies the controversial figures J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk, among others, for their alleged roles in escalating the harassment against the boxer, according to Nabil Boudi, Khelif’s Paris-based attorney, confirming to Variety.

A acrimonious and spiteful debate regarding Khelif’s gender eligibility overshadowed her victory in the 2024 Paris Olympics—a debate in which she had no reason to participate. Khelif endured unrelenting online harassment, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), despite the fact that she was born female and received the full backing of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which declared that “scientifically, this is not a man fighting a woman.”

High-profile figures such as Rowling, Musk, and former U.S. President Donald Trump contributed to the deterioration of the situation. Rowling, who had a massive 14.2 million followers, shared a photo from Khelif’s fight, falsely accusing the athlete of “enjoying the distress of a woman he has just punched in the head.” Musk reiterated similar sentiments, endorsing a post by swimmer Riley Gaines that declared, “Men are not appropriate for women’s sports.” Trump also committed to “preventing men from participating in women’s sports” in a truth social post.

Although the criminal complaint was submitted against X as an entity under French law, it guarantees that all individuals who participated in the online harassment, including those who concealed themselves behind pseudonyms, are subject to investigation. The investigation, according to Boudi, is not restricted to the individuals specified in the complaint. According to him, “We are requesting that the prosecution conduct an investigation into not only these individuals but also any other individuals it deems necessary.” Participants may be required to submit to a trial should the matter proceed to court.

According to Pedro Diaz, Khelif’s coach, the online harassment had a catastrophic effect. He stated that the harassment profoundly impacted Khelif and her team during a time that was intended to be celebratory. Diaz, despite the overwhelming negativity, urged Khelif to remain concentrated, which ultimately resulted in her victory in the ring. Diaz referred to this victory as the most rewarding of his career.