Celebrities named in explosive cyberbullying lawsuit filed by Imane Khelif.
Algerian boxing champion, Imane Khelif, is fighting a different kind of battle—and it involves two of the world’s most influential figures.
Khelif has officially filed a criminal complaint against two celebrities, accusing them of aggravated cyber harassment during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The complaint, submitted to French authorities, has sent shockwaves through the sports and entertainment worlds.
So, how exactly did this all explode onto the world stage?
Olympic champion’s journey from Algeria to Paris.
Let’s rewind: Khelif, born and raised in Algeria, has been a national sports hero for years.
She rose to prominence with her quick fists and relentless spirit, securing numerous titles in the female boxing category across Europe and Africa.
Her road to the Paris Olympics was paved with success, hard work, and grit, but it was far from smooth.
Before the Olympics, Khelif faced multiple obstacles, including visa issues, last-minute changes to her training team, and controversial decisions about her Olympic eligibility.
Some online trolls, emboldened by keyboard anonymity, falsely accused her of not being biologically female.
Controversy erupts over Olympic bout.
The controversy boiled over during her Olympic match against Carini, an Italian contender in the women’s division.
It was a tough bout, but Khelif emerged victorious, clinching the gold medal and proving her doubters wrong.
But that victory came at a price—an onslaught of vitriol erupted online, questioning her gender, her legitimacy, and her very right to compete.
Khelif fights back against lies and hate.
Despite this torrent of negativity, Khelif held her ground. Her team quickly moved to disprove the lies, sharing documents that confirmed her female identity, including her passport.
Yet, the damage had already been done—Khelif’s reputation had been tarnished in the eyes of millions, and her victory overshadowed by this frenzy of misinformation.
With the online harassment reaching fever pitch, Khelif decided to take matters into her own hands.
Khelif’s lawyer files complaint to stop the abuse.
Boudi, her lawyer, revealed that Khelif had filed the complaint in an effort to stop the abuse and hold her aggressors accountable.
Under French law, the complaint has been filed against X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as unknown persons—allowing the prosecution to investigate any individual involved.
Khelif faces relentless online abuse.
Khelif, a fierce competitor in the women’s 66kg boxing category, alleges she was relentlessly targeted online with hateful comments and misinformation.
According to her Paris-based lawyer, Nabil Boudi, Khelif’s harassment began after her match against Italy’s Angela Carini, and it’s been relentless ever since.
The complaint names several high-profile individuals, but none stand out more than Musk and Rowling.
Rowling fuels the fire with controversial tweet.
Rowling fanned the flames with a now-deleted tweet showing a picture of Khelif, accusing her of being a man posing as a female athlete.
“He’s enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head,” Rowling had tweeted, igniting outrage from her millions of followers.
Musk backs anti-transgender narrative.
Not to be left out, Elon Musk chimed in shortly after, backing swimmer Riley Gaines’ statement that “men don’t belong in women’s sports.”
Musk, never one to shy away from controversy, replied “Absolutely,” further adding fuel to the already raging fire.
Trump joins the cyber harassment circus.
This lawsuit isn’t just about them though—former President Donald Trump is also on the radar, along with thousands of anonymous trolls hiding behind pseudonyms on social media.
Former president Donald Trump, always one for bombastic commentary, also threw his two cents into the mix.
Trump tweeted a picture of Khelif’s fight with the caption, “I will keep men out of women’s sports!”
Court battle could have major ramifications.
While Musk, Rowling, and Trump are the biggest names associated with the case, the complaint is wide-ranging and could target other influential personalities.
“We’ve mentioned specific names, but we expect the investigation to look into anyone who contributed to this abuse,” Boudi stated.
It’s no surprise that this lawsuit could escalate dramatically if the court decides to pursue charges against such high-profile figures.
The fallout could be seismic, not just for the individuals named but for the entire world of social media.
As for Khelif, she’s staying focused on her goals and hoping that justice will prevail—not just for her but for any athlete targeted by malicious online trolls.