In an unexpected twist of fate, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and the famous "Harry Potter" author JK Rowling are looking at serving jail terms and heavy fines for allegations of cyberbullying and harassment. The complaint lodged by Olympic boxer Imane Khelif accuses them of orchestrating a ruthless online campaign against her.
Khelif, an Algerian boxer, alleges that she was deluged with insults and victimization on social media platforms where many questioned her eligibility to compete as a woman, citing “XY chromosomes.” This became a scandal when Musk and Rowling added their voices to it.
Khelif Files Bullying Case
The case provoked more talk about issues related to cyberbullying as well as what responsibility comes with being famous. As investigations progress, what remains uncertain is whether two individuals who have wielded so much influence over our lifetime will be held accountable.
Nabil Boudi, the athlete's lawyer, said that Musk and Rowling were mentioned in the lawsuit. Although Trump wasn't mentioned, Boudi said he would also be investigated because he tweeted.
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. #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/Q5SbKiksXQ
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 1, 2024
"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," Boudi said, according to DailyMail.
The repercussions for cyberbullying offenses in France can include prison sentences ranging from two to five years and fines between £26,000 and £39,000. If the offense is prosecuted as online hate speech, the fines can escalate significantly, ranging from £64,000 to £214,000.
How the Issue Started
The storm over whether Khelif should have been allowed to compete in women's boxing broke out when she won gold at the 2024 Pari Olympics. Critics such as Musk and Rowling argued that she had an unfair edge because of her "XY chromosomes," igniting a fierce debate about gender-based eligibility rules for sports.
Khelif has continued to deny any wrongdoing and has been cleared by The International Boxing Association (AIBA) to compete. Nonetheless, there has been an intense backlash on the internet against this athlete, leading many people to demand stripping off her medals. In contrast, others called for banning her from sports competitions.
Rowling, who has over 14 million followers on X, posted on the social media platform after Italy's Angela Carini, Khelif's opponent in the Olympic round 16, decided to quit after just 46 seconds.
"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," Rowling tweeted.
Absolutely https://t.co/twccUEOW9e
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 1, 2024
On the other hand, Musk retweeted a post with a caption "men don't belong in women's sports" and said "Absolutely."
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
