Imane Khelif names Elon Musk, JK Rowling in cyber-bullying lawsuit

Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has named famous personalities, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, ex-United States president Donald Trump and renowned British author JK Rowling in a cyber-bullying lawsuit filed by her.

The 25-year-old Olympic gold medallist filed the lawsuit over the gender row that made headlines during the Paris Olympics 2024, CNN reported.

The lawsuit accuses individuals of "aggravated cyber-harassment" aimed at Khelif, which her lawyer, Nabil Boudi, described as a "misogynist, racist, and sexist campaign."

"JK Rowling and Elon Musk are named in the lawsuit, among others," Boudi confirmed to Variety.

Why were Musk, Rowling mentioned in Khelif's lawsuit?

Prior to the lawsuit, American swimmer Riley Gaines made a post on X featuring Khelif’s picture with the caption, "Men don’t belong in women’s sports." 

Later, Musk re-shared the post, and wrote: "Absolutely."

Additionally, Rowling made a post on X, slamming Khelif's participation in the quadrennial event. 

She wrote: "Could any picture sum up our new men's rights movement better? The smirk of a male who's 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."

Many famous personalities, including Trump and American wrestler Logan Paul, took to social media, accusing Khelif of being a man as the gender row erupted after Italian boxer Angela Carini pulled out of her Round of 16 bout against Khelif after only 46 seconds. 

Carini ended her campaign in tears, saying that she had "never been hit so hard" in her life.

Khelif faced backlash, but International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach defended her, saying, "women must be allowed to take part in women's competitions."

Khelif made history as she became the first Algerian woman to win a gold medal for boxing at the Olympic Games, by defeating China's Yang Liu 5-0. Khelif also secured dominating wins over Thailand's Janjaem Suwannapheng and Hungary's Luca Anna Hamori.