J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk Named in Cyberbullying Lawsuit Filed by Algerian Boxer Imane Khelif After Olympic Win

[j brown's body]

J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk have both been named in a criminal complaint filed to French authorities over alleged “acts of aggravated cyber harassment” against Algerian boxer and newly crowned Olympic champion Imane Khelif. Nabil Boudi, the Paris-based attorney of Khelif, confirmed to Variety that both figures were mentioned in the body of the complaint, posted to the anti-online hatred center of the Paris public prosecutor’s office on Friday.

...Most of the attacks came via social media, particularly on X/Twitter, and the controversy was escalated when high-profile figures stepped into the fray. In one message to her 14.2 million followers, Rowling posted a picture from Khelif’s fight with Italian boxer Angela Carini, accusing the former of being a man who was “enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head.” Musk, meanwhile, shared a post from swimmer Riley Gaines that claimed “men don’t belong in women’s sports.” The X owner co-signed the message by writing: “Absolutely.” Trump posted a message with a picture from the fight with Carina accompanied by the message: “I will keep men out of women’s sports!”

...As for X, Boudi said the complaint is aimed at the authors of social media posts and not the platforms themselves. “It’s the responsibility of lawmakers to issue sanctions to platforms, not ours,” he said. But he did note that cyber harassment cases were now being taken much more seriously by judicial authorities and that, in some cases, “there are prison sentences.”

Khelif’s coach, Pedro Diaz, told Variety that the bullying Khelif endured during her run in the Olympics “incredibly affected her” and “everyone around her.”

“The first time she fought in the Olympics, there was this crazy storm outside of the ring,” said Diaz, who runs Miami-based Mundo Boxing Gym and started training with Khelif in February 2023. “I had never seen anything so disgusting in my life,” added the coach, who has participated in the training of 21 Olympic champions prior to the Algerian boxer. Diaz said he asked Khelif to refrain from looking at social media so she “wouldn’t lose her focus on winning the gold medal.”

Link

I support free speech, but I find it hard to blame her for this. What recourse does an individual have when they are smeared with hate by the rich and powerful?

 

[Napoleon]

J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk have both been named in a criminal complaint filed to French authorities over alleged “acts of aggravated cyber harassment” against Algerian boxer and newly crowned Olympic champion Imane Khelif. Nabil Boudi, the Paris-based attorney of Khelif, confirmed to Variety that both figures were mentioned in the body of the complaint, posted to the anti-online hatred center of the Paris public prosecutor’s office on Friday.

...Most of the attacks came via social media, particularly on X/Twitter, and the controversy was escalated when high-profile figures stepped into the fray. In one message to her 14.2 million followers, Rowling posted a picture from Khelif’s fight with Italian boxer Angela Carini, accusing the former of being a man who was “enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head.” Musk, meanwhile, shared a post from swimmer Riley Gaines that claimed “men don’t belong in women’s sports.” The X owner co-signed the message by writing: “Absolutely.” Trump posted a message with a picture from the fight with Carina accompanied by the message: “I will keep men out of women’s sports!”

...As for X, Boudi said the complaint is aimed at the authors of social media posts and not the platforms themselves. “It’s the responsibility of lawmakers to issue sanctions to platforms, not ours,” he said. But he did note that cyber harassment cases were now being taken much more seriously by judicial authorities and that, in some cases, “there are prison sentences.”

Khelif’s coach, Pedro Diaz, told Variety that the bullying Khelif endured during her run in the Olympics “incredibly affected her” and “everyone around her.”

“The first time she fought in the Olympics, there was this crazy storm outside of the ring,” said Diaz, who runs Miami-based Mundo Boxing Gym and started training with Khelif in February 2023. “I had never seen anything so disgusting in my life,” added the coach, who has participated in the training of 21 Olympic champions prior to the Algerian boxer. Diaz said he asked Khelif to refrain from looking at social media so she “wouldn’t lose her focus on winning the gold medal.”

Link

I support free speech, but I find it hard to blame her for this. What recourse does an individual have when they are smeared with hate by the rich and powerful?

They said what they said based on the findings of the relevant sports authority. Merely not liking what someone posts is not harassment.

 

[dmpi]

Message from the left: Even when you're right, you're wrong.

 

[Phys251]

J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk have both been named in a criminal complaint filed to French authorities over alleged “acts of aggravated cyber harassment” against Algerian boxer and newly crowned Olympic champion Imane Khelif. Nabil Boudi, the Paris-based attorney of Khelif, confirmed to Variety that both figures were mentioned in the body of the complaint, posted to the anti-online hatred center of the Paris public prosecutor’s office on Friday.

...Most of the attacks came via social media, particularly on X/Twitter, and the controversy was escalated when high-profile figures stepped into the fray. In one message to her 14.2 million followers, Rowling posted a picture from Khelif’s fight with Italian boxer Angela Carini, accusing the former of being a man who was “enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head.” Musk, meanwhile, shared a post from swimmer Riley Gaines that claimed “men don’t belong in women’s sports.” The X owner co-signed the message by writing: “Absolutely.” Trump posted a message with a picture from the fight with Carina accompanied by the message: “I will keep men out of women’s sports!”

...As for X, Boudi said the complaint is aimed at the authors of social media posts and not the platforms themselves. “It’s the responsibility of lawmakers to issue sanctions to platforms, not ours,” he said. But he did note that cyber harassment cases were now being taken much more seriously by judicial authorities and that, in some cases, “there are prison sentences.”

Khelif’s coach, Pedro Diaz, told Variety that the bullying Khelif endured during her run in the Olympics “incredibly affected her” and “everyone around her.”

“The first time she fought in the Olympics, there was this crazy storm outside of the ring,” said Diaz, who runs Miami-based Mundo Boxing Gym and started training with Khelif in February 2023. “I had never seen anything so disgusting in my life,” added the coach, who has participated in the training of 21 Olympic champions prior to the Algerian boxer. Diaz said he asked Khelif to refrain from looking at social media so she “wouldn’t lose her focus on winning the gold medal.”

Link

I support free speech, but I find it hard to blame her for this. What recourse does an individual have when they are smeared with hate by the rich and powerful?

This whole fiasco was contrived by a bunch of transphobes who are under the delusion that they know how to determine the gender of someone. Khelif is a cis woman. Period. And Rowling deliberately slandered her.

 

[Kblaster49]

They said what they said based on the findings of the relevant sports authority. Merely not liking what someone posts is not harassment.

They were bullying and harassing. Is it against the law in France? I have no idea, the courts will decide.

 

[MrNiceGuy]

J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk have both been named in a criminal complaint filed to French authorities over alleged “acts of aggravated cyber harassment” against Algerian boxer and newly crowned Olympic champion Imane Khelif. Nabil Boudi, the Paris-based attorney of Khelif, confirmed to Variety that both figures were mentioned in the body of the complaint, posted to the anti-online hatred center of the Paris public prosecutor’s office on Friday.

...Most of the attacks came via social media, particularly on X/Twitter, and the controversy was escalated when high-profile figures stepped into the fray. In one message to her 14.2 million followers, Rowling posted a picture from Khelif’s fight with Italian boxer Angela Carini, accusing the former of being a man who was “enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head.” Musk, meanwhile, shared a post from swimmer Riley Gaines that claimed “men don’t belong in women’s sports.” The X owner co-signed the message by writing: “Absolutely.” Trump posted a message with a picture from the fight with Carina accompanied by the message: “I will keep men out of women’s sports!”

...As for X, Boudi said the complaint is aimed at the authors of social media posts and not the platforms themselves. “It’s the responsibility of lawmakers to issue sanctions to platforms, not ours,” he said. But he did note that cyber harassment cases were now being taken much more seriously by judicial authorities and that, in some cases, “there are prison sentences.”

Khelif’s coach, Pedro Diaz, told Variety that the bullying Khelif endured during her run in the Olympics “incredibly affected her” and “everyone around her.”

“The first time she fought in the Olympics, there was this crazy storm outside of the ring,” said Diaz, who runs Miami-based Mundo Boxing Gym and started training with Khelif in February 2023. “I had never seen anything so disgusting in my life,” added the coach, who has participated in the training of 21 Olympic champions prior to the Algerian boxer. Diaz said he asked Khelif to refrain from looking at social media so she “wouldn’t lose her focus on winning the gold medal.”

Link

I support free speech, but I find it hard to blame her for this. What recourse does an individual have when they are smeared with hate by the rich and powerful?

That person should properly have no recourse beyond speaking that person's own mind. Like the rest of us.

While this person is free to be upset by or offended by these comments, that's just a whine and it has no import. Rowling is allowed to think and say this person is a male, and should not be punching women in the face. Musk is allowed to say that men should not be allowed in women's sports. So, are the rest of us. This person, Imane, is allowed to say otherwise.

Like every Christian censor who claims to have the right to be free of comments denigrating Christianity, like every white guy who thinks he should be free from being called a Honkey or a White Cracker, and like everyone who might not appreciate being called a bigot or a racist or fascist or Hitler, people say rude and impolite things all the time, and things that are hurtful of feelings. A drawing of the Prophet Mohammed offends some Muslims to their core, to the point that they've lashed out in group riots of mayhem and destruction. Yet, we have every right to offend the **** out of them with drawings of the Prophet Mohammet (piss be upon him).

Likewise, Imane gets no greater rights than anyone else.

 

[Lisa]

They said what they said based on the findings of the relevant sports authority. Merely not liking what someone posts is not harassment.

Its libel. Its also sexual harassment. Trump is well aware of what that means.

 

[MrNiceGuy]

They were bullying and harassing. Is it against the law in France? I have no idea, the courts will decide.

They were not bullying or harassing, they were expressing their opinion on Twitter. Nobody was talking to Imane or directing comments to her, following, badgering, shouting at, cursing at, or pushing Imane around. Posting that Imane is an XY male on Twitter is not bullying.

If you want that to be the threshold, get ready for Twitter posts calling someone a racist, bigot, phobe, or the like, or mocking their religion to likewise be bullying.

There is no right not to be offended.

 

[MrNiceGuy]

Its libel. Its also sexual harassment. Trump is well aware of what that means.

Truth is a defense to libel, and it's not defamatory to call someone male or female, even if they're not (unless you're claiming that those are denigrations or pejoratives, lol).

Imane calling Imane a male is fraud, it seems, and Imane's passport paperwork submitted to the IOC is fraudulent.

 

[ModernDiogenes]

J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk have both been named in a criminal complaint filed to French authorities over alleged “acts of aggravated cyber harassment” against Algerian boxer and newly crowned Olympic champion Imane Khelif. Nabil Boudi, the Paris-based attorney of Khelif, confirmed to Variety that both figures were mentioned in the body of the complaint, posted to the anti-online hatred center of the Paris public prosecutor’s office on Friday.

...Most of the attacks came via social media, particularly on X/Twitter, and the controversy was escalated when high-profile figures stepped into the fray. In one message to her 14.2 million followers, Rowling posted a picture from Khelif’s fight with Italian boxer Angela Carini, accusing the former of being a man who was “enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head.” Musk, meanwhile, shared a post from swimmer Riley Gaines that claimed “men don’t belong in women’s sports.” The X owner co-signed the message by writing: “Absolutely.” Trump posted a message with a picture from the fight with Carina accompanied by the message: “I will keep men out of women’s sports!”

...As for X, Boudi said the complaint is aimed at the authors of social media posts and not the platforms themselves. “It’s the responsibility of lawmakers to issue sanctions to platforms, not ours,” he said. But he did note that cyber harassment cases were now being taken much more seriously by judicial authorities and that, in some cases, “there are prison sentences.”

Khelif’s coach, Pedro Diaz, told Variety that the bullying Khelif endured during her run in the Olympics “incredibly affected her” and “everyone around her.”

“The first time she fought in the Olympics, there was this crazy storm outside of the ring,” said Diaz, who runs Miami-based Mundo Boxing Gym and started training with Khelif in February 2023. “I had never seen anything so disgusting in my life,” added the coach, who has participated in the training of 21 Olympic champions prior to the Algerian boxer. Diaz said he asked Khelif to refrain from looking at social media so she “wouldn’t lose her focus on winning the gold medal.”

Link

I support free speech, but I find it hard to blame her for this. What recourse does an individual have when they are smeared with hate by the rich and powerful?

That’s just wrong.

You can disagree with Musk, Rowling, all one would like but as long as they are making their argument within civil guidelines (not calling for violence, by way of example) they should be entitled to their view and the right to express it publicly.

Further, the Olympic committee is wrong in its assessment. It isn’t a matter of a man fighting women. Khelif is a woman. What she isn’t is generically female. No one carrying XY chromosomes is. And while others have stated otherwise when i counter with, “Great. Show me a cite from a recognized scientific source that states those with XY chromosomes are genetically female they can’t or want do it. The reason is they can’t find one. I know, I’ve gone looking to see if there is one and I can’t find any.

The problem is readily apparent as it is unfortunate. While Kheilf might not have testosterone issues effecting muscle, skeletal and endurance issues she sets a precedent for those who were born male, still are genetically male and transitioned from man to woman. There isn’t a problem with a gender dysphoric individual addressing their medical issues. There is a fairness problem for cis born females having to compete against generic males.

It should be obvious it’s not a discrimination issue. It’s a matter of simple fairness.

 

[MrNiceGuy]

This whole fiasco was contrived by a bunch of transphobes who are under the delusion that they know how to determine the gender of someone. Khelif is a cis woman. Period. And Rowling deliberately slandered her.

All humans know how to determine someone's sex (gender is in someone's mind - self-identification, so nobody claims to be able to know if a particular person subjectively "feels" like something other than their biological sex). But humans have been reliably able to determine who the males and females are for hundreds of thousands of years. Human evolution by natural selection would have been impossible without such an ability.

Also, nobody gives **** about Imane's subjective "gender identity." It's biological sex that's the issue. And, even if a person is wrong about Imane, it's not bullying.

How do you know Khelif is a ciswoman - Khelif has not used that term. Khelif said Khelif is a woman, not that Khelif is a ciswoman. So, for all you know, Khelif was born XY male, but raised as a girl in Algeria. That doesn't make Khelif female.

 

[Lisa]

Truth is a defense to libel, and it's not defamatory to call someone male or female, even if they're not (unless you're claiming that those are denigrations or pejoratives, lol).

She was born female and you cant prove otherwise. Its a death sentence to be transgender in Algeria.

Imane calling Imane a male is fraud, it seems, and Imane's passport paperwork submitted to the IOC is fraudulent.

You are repeating Russian propaganda that you cannot prove.

 

[Simon W. Moon]

They said what they said based on the findings of the relevant sports authority. Merely not liking what someone posts is not harassment.

Which legal authority are you citing for your assessment of the suit?

And does whatever you are referencing actually apply to the jurisdiction where the suit was filed?

 

[Lisa]

All humans know how to determine someone's sex (gender is in someone's mind - self-identification, so nobody claims to be able to know if a particular person subjectively "feels" like something other than their biological sex). But humans have been reliably able to determine who the males and females are for hundreds of thousands of years. Human evolution by natural selection would have been impossible without such an ability.

Also, nobody gives **** about Imane's subjective "gender identity." It's biological sex that's the issue. And, even if a person is wrong about Imane, it's not bullying.

Nobody has mentioned her gender identity, except conservatives, to try to claim she is trans.

How do you know Khelif is a ciswoman - Khelif has not used that term. Khelif said Khelif is a woman, not that Khelif is a ciswoman. So, for all you know, Khelif was born XY male, but raised as a girl in Algeria. That doesn't make Khelif female.

XY chromosomes do not always mean the person is male. Swyer syndrome.

 

[bomberfox]

J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk have both been named in a criminal complaint filed to French authorities over alleged “acts of aggravated cyber harassment” against Algerian boxer and newly crowned Olympic champion Imane Khelif. Nabil Boudi, the Paris-based attorney of Khelif, confirmed to Variety that both figures were mentioned in the body of the complaint, posted to the anti-online hatred center of the Paris public prosecutor’s office on Friday.

...Most of the attacks came via social media, particularly on X/Twitter, and the controversy was escalated when high-profile figures stepped into the fray. In one message to her 14.2 million followers, Rowling posted a picture from Khelif’s fight with Italian boxer Angela Carini, accusing the former of being a man who was “enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head.” Musk, meanwhile, shared a post from swimmer Riley Gaines that claimed “men don’t belong in women’s sports.” The X owner co-signed the message by writing: “Absolutely.” Trump posted a message with a picture from the fight with Carina accompanied by the message: “I will keep men out of women’s sports!”

...As for X, Boudi said the complaint is aimed at the authors of social media posts and not the platforms themselves. “It’s the responsibility of lawmakers to issue sanctions to platforms, not ours,” he said. But he did note that cyber harassment cases were now being taken much more seriously by judicial authorities and that, in some cases, “there are prison sentences.”

Khelif’s coach, Pedro Diaz, told Variety that the bullying Khelif endured during her run in the Olympics “incredibly affected her” and “everyone around her.”

“The first time she fought in the Olympics, there was this crazy storm outside of the ring,” said Diaz, who runs Miami-based Mundo Boxing Gym and started training with Khelif in February 2023. “I had never seen anything so disgusting in my life,” added the coach, who has participated in the training of 21 Olympic champions prior to the Algerian boxer. Diaz said he asked Khelif to refrain from looking at social media so she “wouldn’t lose her focus on winning the gold medal.”

Link

I support free speech, but I find it hard to blame her for this. What recourse does an individual have when they are smeared with hate by the rich and powerful?

JK was continuing old racist tropes. Good to know i was right about her.

 

[Ginger Ale]

Good for her!!
Bullies should be called out! Rich people especially feel they are untouchable. Like Mark Cuban said about Trump, he feels superior.



False claims that Khelif was transgender or a man erupted online, and the International Olympic Committee defended her and denounced those peddling misinformation. Khelif said that the spread of misconceptions about her “harms human dignity.”

Among those who posted misinformation about the athlete were Donald Trump, Elon Musk and J. K. Rowling. These people are not above the human decency meter!

Khelif’s legal complaint was filed against social media platforms, including “X,” instead of a specific perpetrator, a common formulation under French law that leaves it up to investigators to determine which person or organization may have been at fault.

 

[bomberfox]

That’s just wrong.

You can disagree with Musk, Rowling, all one would like but as long as they are making their argument within civil guidelines (not calling for violence, by way of example) they should be entitled to their view and the right to express it publicly.

Further, the Olympic committee is wrong in its assessment. It isn’t a matter of a man fighting women. Khelif is a woman. What she isn’t is generically female. No one carrying XY chromosomes is. And while others have stated otherwise when i counter with, “Great. Show me a cite from a recognized scientific source that states those with XY chromosomes are genetically female they can’t or want do it. The reason is they can’t find one. I know, I’ve gone looking to see if there is one and I can’t find any.

The problem is readily apparent as it is unfortunate. While Kheilf might not have testosterone issues effecting muscle, skeletal and endurance issues she sets a precedent for those who were born male, still are genetically male and transitioned from man to woman. There isn’t a problem with a gender dysphoric individual addressing their medical issues. There is a fairness problem for cis born females having to compete against generic males.

It should be obvious it’s not a discrimination issue. It’s a matter of simple fairness.

She was never born a male. That is a lie made up by a Russian agency that was banned.

This is a case of libel which led to a harassment campaign which is actionable even in the US.

 

[MrNiceGuy]

She was born female and you cant prove otherwise. Its a death sentence to be transgender in Algeria.

I don't claim to know subjective gender identity. Even if Imane stated what Imane thought Imane's gender identity was, I couldn't be sure Imane had fully processed Imane's feelings and thoughts, or was honest.

But Imane took a chromosome test and is XY. If Imane disputes that test, then take another one. Until then, the evidence we have now is that Imane is XY, male.

You are repeating Russian propaganda that you cannot prove.

LOL - you have been repeating nonsense, as usual.

 

[Simon W. Moon]

Truth is a defense to libel, and it's not defamatory to call someone male or female, even if they're not (unless you're claiming that those are denigrations or pejoratives, lol).

w/o seeing everything which was posted,
I am reluctant to decide that all that was posted was "Khelif is a man"
Your optimism on this count is a thing.

What jurisdiction is the suit filed in?

&
fwiw, “acts of aggravated cyber harassment” may be different than 'libel' in that jurisdiction

 

[Kblaster49]

They were not bullying or harassing, they were expressing their opinion on Twitter.

And it’s my opinion that they were bullying and harassing. Free speech and all that.
As I said in my post, I have no idea if it’s against the law. The French courts will decide.

 

[Simon W. Moon]

They were not bullying or harassing, they were expressing their opinion on Twitter. Nobody was talking to Imane or directing comments to her, following, badgering, shouting at, cursing at, or pushing Imane around. Posting that Imane is an XY male on Twitter is not bullying.
If you want that to be the threshold, get ready for Twitter posts calling someone a racist, bigot, phobe, or the like, or mocking their religion to likewise be bullying.
There is no right not to be offended.

In the jurisdiction where the suit is filed,
what are the working definitions of harassment you used to determine that Khelif was not "harassed"?


Or do you just expect laws to "make sense" even foreign laws?

 

[Lisa]

I don't claim to know subjective gender identity. Even if Imane stated what Imane thought Imane's gender identity was, I couldn't be sure Imane had fully processed Imane's feelings and thoughts, or was honest.

But Imane took a chromosome test and is XY. If Imane disputes that test, then take another one. Until then, the evidence we have now is that Imane is XY, male.

LOL - you have been repeating nonsense, as usual.

This was a political hit job from the Russians because of their discredited sporting organization. You got sucked into the misinformation because of your emotional support of transphobia.

Banned governing body that's fueling outcry on Olympic boxers has Russian ties and troubled history

The allegations that Olympic boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting failed an eligibility test for women's competition have been made by only the International Boxing Association.

apnews.com

Russian disinformation slams Paris and amplifies Khelif debate to undermine the Olympics

Groups linked to Russia’s government are using online disinformation to spread false information about the 2024 Olympics and portraying Paris as a crime-ridden cesspool.

apnews.com

 

[bomberfox]

Given Rowling’s propensity to go hog wild with slander suits, she is getting that karma.

 

[MrNiceGuy]

Good for her!!
Bullies should be called out!

Absolutely, call out bullies, or even non-bullies. But, one, Rowling didn't bully anyone, and two, filing a criminal complaint and having a criminal investigation is not just "calling out."

Rich people especially feel they are untouchable. Like Mark Cuban said about Trump, he feels superior.

Doesn't matter what they feel like.

False claims that Khelif was transgender or a man erupted online,

You don't know Imane is not a man. You're spreading false claims that Imane is a woman. And, neither Elon nor JK said Imane was transgender.

and the International Olympic Committee defended her and denounced those peddling misinformation. Khelif said that the spread of misconceptions about her “harms human dignity.”

And they are entitled to their opinion on it, and to express it. That's the great thing about freedom of thought and expression: so are JK and Elon. The IOC and Imane are not the boss of Elon and JK, or you and me.

Among those who posted misinformation about the athlete were Donald Trump, Elon Musk and J. K. Rowling. These people are not above the human decency meter!

Free speech is not only for the people you think are decent. The most awful person in the world is entilted to the same freedom of speech as the nicest, kindest person you can think of.

Khelif’s legal complaint was filed against social media platforms, including “X,” instead of a specific perpetrator, a common formulation under French law that leaves it up to investigators to determine which person or organization may have been at fault.

Yes, it's a giant threat - keep your mouth shut or you're part of the investigation, which would create criminal prosecution for expression of ideas - thoughtcrime.

There is nothing here to be at fault for. JK has every right to say what she said, good or bad, and Imane has every right to respond. Same with Elon. Same with you. Same with me. What we don't have is the right to have others criminally prosecuted for the expression of ideas.

 

[Lisa]

Given Rowling’s propensity to go hog wild with slander suits, she is getting that karma.

A 500 million dollar settlement should convince her to keep her mouth shut on a subject she obviously doesn't understand.