Elon Musk and JK Rowling could face substantial fines and potential prison sentences if Imane Khelif prevails in her cyberbullying lawsuit. The Algerian boxer gained attention during this year’s Olympics due to a controversy over a gender eligibility test.
Khelif drew significant attention after her brief match against Italy’s Angela Carini, which ended after just 46 seconds when Carini abandoned the bout. Subsequent reports indicated Khelif was disqualified from the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships for failing an unspecified gender eligibility test.
Khelif, who was born a woman and has her gender listed as female on her passport, was later deemed eligible by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the Paris Games, where she won gold in the women’s 66kg boxing final against China’s Yang Liu. Her participation sparked protests from several public figures, including Musk and Rowling.
IMANE KHELIF RESPONDS TO DONALD TRUMP AND ELON MUSK:
“I saw that big personalities like Donald Trump had compared me to a man and it hurt me extremely.
I didn’t understand this relentlessness and all this hatred. I was afraid but I got up again.” pic.twitter.com/WdHRNX5oKp
— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) August 14, 2024
Following the Olympics, Khelif initiated a lawsuit against several individuals identified by French authorities for alleged aggravated cyber harassment.
Nabil Boudi, Khelif’s attorney, revealed that Musk and Rowling were named in the complaint filed with the anti-online hatred centre of the Paris public prosecutor’s office.
During the Olympics, Rowling referred to Khelif as a “male” on Twitter, accusing her of “enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head, and whose life’s ambition he’s just shattered.”
Musk shared a post from American swimmer Riley Gaines stating, “Men don’t belong in women’s sports,” and added, “Absolutely.”
Boudi also mentioned that Donald Trump might be included in further investigations. The former US president commented on his Truth Social platform, “I will keep men out of women’s sports.”
Khelif’s lawyer stated, “Trump tweeted, so whether or not he is named in our lawsuit, he will inevitably be looked into as part of the prosecution.”
The complaint calls for the prosecution to investigate not only these individuals but anyone deemed necessary.
If Musk and Rowling lose the case, they could face imprisonment, as cyberbullying offenses in France carry significant fines as well.
Representatives for Elon Musk and JK Rowling have not yet responded to requests for comment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Why are Elon Musk and JK Rowling being sued by Imane Khelif?
They’re accused of cyberbullying Khelif following her participation in the Olympics.
What did JK Rowling say about Imane Khelif?
Rowling referred to Khelif as a ‘male’ and accused her of shattering another woman’s life ambition.
What did Elon Musk say about Imane Khelif?
Musk shared a post claiming ‘Men don’t belong in women’s sports’ and added ‘Absolutely.’
What could happen if Musk and Rowling lose the lawsuit?
They could face hefty fines and possibly time behind bars.
Is Donald Trump also involved in Khelif’s lawsuit?
Trump could be investigated as part of the prosecution for his comments on men in women’s sports.