JK Rowling has been named in a cyberbullying lawsuit filed by Algerian boxer Imane Khelif.
The 25-year-old boxer recently won gold at the Paris Olympics, but she subsequently launched legal action against the Harry Potter author, Elon Musk and other public figures over comments they made about her gender, based on misinformation that surfaced online.
“JK Rowling and Elon Musk are named in the lawsuit, among others,” Nabil Boudi, Khelif’s lawyer, told Variety.
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The lawyer also confirmed former US president Donald Trump was part of the investigation.
“Trump tweeted, so whether or not he is named in our lawsuit, he will inevitably be looked into as part of the prosecution,” Boudi said.
Khelif — who was born female and identifies as a woman — has alleged “acts of aggravated cyber-harassment”.
The complaint has been filed against the social media platform X, which under French law means it was filed against unknown persons.
As a result, the prosecution has “all the latitude to be able to investigate against all people”.
“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.
Khelif won a gold medal in Paris at the weekend, and she subsequently said attacks over her gender eligibility gave her victory a “special taste”.
The boxer, who was banned from the World Championships in 2023, claimed she was a victim of bullying.
“I am fully qualified to take part in this competition. I am a woman like any other woman,” Khelif said after winning gold in Paris.
“I was born a woman. I have lived as a woman. I competed as a woman – there is no doubt about that.”
– With AAP
