ELON MUSK and JK Rowling are two of the people reportedly named in the ‘cyberbullying’ lawsuit filed by Olympic champion Imane Khelif.
Social media exploded earlier this month when footage of Khelif stopping Italian Angela Carini in just 46 seconds went viral.
The Algerian had been disqualified from the women’s world championships last year by IBA due to ‘gender eligibility test’ results but was allowed to compete in Paris by the International Olympic Committee.
Rowling, who wrote the Harry Potter books, and Musk criticised Khelif’s participation on X, formerly Twitter. In reference to Khelif, Rowling wrote: “He’s protected by a misogynist sporting establishment enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched int he head.”
X co-owner Musk, meanwhile, wrote ‘absolutely’ while reposting a post stating ‘men don’t belong in women’s sports’ with a photograph of Carini.
And now Variety has reported that both have been named in the criminal complaint filed to French authorities as a result of the alleged ‘acts of aggravated cyber harassment’ which followed Khelif’s participation at the Games.
Khelif’s attorney Nabil Boudi reportedly confirmed Musk and Rowling are both mentioned in the complaint which was made to the Paris Prosecutor’s Office on August 13, who have also now launched an investigation.
They said: “On Aug. 13, (The National Center for the Fight Against Online Hatred) contacted the OCLCH (Central Office for the Fight Against Crimes Against Humanity and Hate Crimes) to conduct an investigation into the counts of cyber harassment due to gender, public insult because of gender, public incitement to discrimination and public insult because of origin.”
The lawsuit has been filed against X, in particular, which will allow the prosecution to investigate all people who might have directed hateful messages towards Khelif.
Boudi insisted that the investigation is not just about Musk, Rowling or the major public figures who have been named. He said: “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.”