Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif, fresh off a historic gold medal win, is taking legal action against high-profile figures like JK Rowling and Elon Musk, alleging cyber-harassment over their controversial posts on X, formerly Twitter. Here’s the full story.
Gender-Critical Silence
JK Rowling, the world-famous author of the Harry Potter series who is increasingly becoming better known for her gender-critical views, has been remarkably quiet on X, formerly Twitter, recently despite normally being a prolific user.
Legal Troubles Emerge
Rowling, whose championing of gender-critical ideology has drawn severe criticism from LGBTQ+ activists for posts that they say edge dangerously close to outright transphobia, has not posted on X since August 7.
Cyber-Harassment Lawsuit
Recent legal proceedings appear to show why Rowling may have suddenly stopped posting. Imane Khelif, the Algerian boxer who made history by becoming Algeria’s first female Olympic gold medallist in boxing at the Paris Games, has filed a lawsuit in France against Rowling and several celebrities for their alleged involvement in a cyber-harassment campaign against the gold-winning athlete.
Viral Controversy Begins
The debacle began following Khelif’s boxing match against Italian boxer Angela Carini, who, just 46 seconds into the first round, abandoned her match against the Algerian by launching into a tearful tirade about how she had “never felt a punch like this,” and that she had “never been hit so hard” in her life.
Unfounded Rumours Spread
Footage of Carini’s tearful exit from the match quickly went viral online, and unfounded rumours began to spread online, which claimed that Khelif was transgender and quickly devolved into a sustained campaign of targeted online harassment against the athlete.
History of Gender Scrutiny
This is not the first time Khelif has had her gender questioned. The International Boxing Association (IBA), later expelled by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over corruption and financial mismanagement issues, disqualified Khelif from the women’s World Championships after she allegedly failed a gender eligibility test.
Cleared by IOC
However, the IBA did not provide any evidence to support their findings, and the IOC later cleared her to compete, reaffirming that she was scientifically proven to be female.
Rowling’s Damning Remarks
Despite a crystal clear affirmation that Khelif was female and the IOC clearing the Algerian to compete as a woman in women’s boxing, Rowling and a hoard of other gender-critical activists, along with a legion of outright transphobes, launched a tirade of what Khelif’s attorney, Nabil Boudi would refer to in the criminal complaint filed at the Paris prosecutors office as a campaign of “aggravated cyber-harassment” against Khelif.
Rowling and Musk Sued
In a statement to Variety, Boudi said, “JK Rowling and Elon Musk are named in the lawsuit, among others. What we’re asking is that the prosecution investigates not only these people but whoever it feels necessary. If the case goes to court, they will stand trial.”
“The Smirk of a Male”
Rowling’s posts on X regarding Khelif are damning. Posting a picture of Khelif smiling after winning the match, Rowling wrote, “The smirk of a male who knows he’s protected by a misogynist sporting establishment enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head, and whose life’s ambition he’s just shattered.”
“Male Violence” Claims
Later, despite previously referring to the Algerian boxer as a “male,” Rowling added, “I don’t claim Khelif is trans. My objection, and that of many others, is to male violence against women becoming an Olympic sport.”
Musk and Trump Join In
Similarly, Musk endorsed a post by American swimmer Riley Gaines, stating that “men don’t belong in women’s sports.” Musk agreed with one word: “Absolutely.”
Trump’s Outspoken Support
Not to be left out of the online witch hunt, Trump also weighed in, posting on his Truth Social platform: “I will keep men out of women’s sports!”
Disinformation Campaign Ignites
These comments, shared with millions of followers, contributed to the online disinformation campaign targeting Khelif, fuelling the fire of the unfounded backlash the Olympian faced online.
Coach Disgusted
However, the cyberbullying campaign did not just affect Khelif but, understandably, also those close to her, with Pedro Diaz, Khelif’s coach, who has trained 21 Olympic champions, expressing his disgust at the treatment Khelif received.
“Never Seen Anything So Disgusting”
He stated, “The first time she fought in the Olympics, there was this crazy storm outside of the ring. I had never seen anything so disgusting in my life.”
Khelif’s Resilience
Despite the online attacks, Khelif remained resilient, using the controversy to fuel her determination. After winning gold, she addressed her detractors, stating, “Now the whole world knows the story of Imane Khelif. It’s a dream for every athlete. If I qualify or not? If I’m a woman or not? I made many statements in the media. I’m fully qualified. I’m a woman, I was born a woman, I lived a woman, there’s no doubt about that.”
“Enemies of Success”
She added, “These people [who claim I am not], they are the enemies of success, it’s what I call them, it gives my success a special taste because of these attacks … I hope that people will commit to the Olympic charter and its values.”
Global Attention Expected
As Khelif’s lawsuit moves forward, it will likely draw widespread attention, not just due to the high-profile nature of her accusers and attackers but also because of what the case might mean for online accountability in an increasingly connected world where false accusations can spread like wildfire.
Has Rowling Been Silenced?
However, it remains to be seen whether Khelif’s resilience in the face of adversity and her legal action were the final push that forced prolific posters like Rowling to finally hold their tongues regarding their gender-critical views.
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