JK Rowling could face jail time after being named in a cyberbullying lawsuit filed by Algerian boxer Imane Khelif. Some of Rowling’s opponents have encouraged the Olympic gold medalist to sue the author specifically over the rights to the Harry Potter series.
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Rowling’s online tirade against Khelif began as part of a years-long downward spiral down the rabbit hole of transphobia on X (formerly Twitter). The author, sometimes known as Robert Galbraith, is a lifelong feminist activist who in recent years has evolved into a trans-exclusive radical feminist (TERF).
It started with Rowling liking a few transphobic tweets and later claiming it was unintentional. Then she raised a few questions about transgender women in all-female spaces. In just under five years, she evolved into the kind of person who compares transgender people to the evil “Death Eaters” in the Harry Potter books and regularly incites hate-filled mobs against relatively anonymous transgender people on X.
Given this backdrop, it was no great surprise that Rowling joined the culture war against Khelif. Conservatives targeted the Algerian boxer after she won a fight against Italian boxer Angela Carini, who gave up after two punches. Khelif tried to console Carini, who refused to shake her hand and later told the media that it was “not right.”
Unimaginable hatred and violent rhetoric followed when it came to light that the corrupt International Boxing Federation (IBA) had failed Imane Khelif’s “gender test.” The federation refused to disclose details. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) severed its ties with the IBA after it was accused of financial misconduct and influence peddling by the Russian government.
Khelif was not born male and does not identify as intersex. She is a cisgender woman, assigned female at birth, and is eligible for women’s sports. The IOC allowed Khelif to compete, claiming that “scientifically, no man fights a woman.” Angela Carini later apologized.
Nevertheless, the harassment continued. One of Khelif’s opponents shared a photo comparing her to an animal. Rowling and other well-known figures from the cultural scene took action against her on X. Publish And repost more than a dozen times about Khelif’s Olympic boxing matches:
The idea that those who object to a man hitting a woman in the name of sport object because they believe Khelif is “trans” is a joke. We object because we saw a man hitting a woman.
The idea that those who object to a man hitting a woman in the name of sport object because they believe Khelif is “trans” is a joke. We object because we saw a man hitting a woman. https://t.co/KSAM5RCl1S
— J. K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) 2 August 2024
Shocking, dangerous and profoundly unfair to women and girls. IOC, be ashamed 👎
Shocking, dangerous and profoundly unfair to women and girls. IOC, hang your heads in shame 👎 https://t.co/j8KxNEXlCm
— Barry McGuigan (@ClonesCyclone) 1 August 2024
Khelif won a gold medal on Saturday, August 10. X-users noticed that Rowling was suspiciously quiet in the days following the Olympics closing ceremony, and many hoped that the Algerian boxer was planning to take legal action against the “Harry Potter” author and others.
Lawyer and journalist Imani Gandy (@AngryBlackLady) wrote:
jk Rowling has been fucking silent for 3 days this chick hasn’t stopped whining about transsexuals for 20 minutes in 7 years but now she’s probably the midsection of a human centipede and can’t speak
jk Rowling has been fucking silent for 3 days this chick hasn’t stopped whining about transsexuals for 20 minutes in 7 years but now she’s probably the midsection of a human centipede and can’t speak
— Imani Gandy (Orcas Version) ⚓️ (@AngryBlackLady) 11 August 2024
Theme park and entertainment YouTuber Jenny Nicholson (@JennyENicholson) replied:
Imane Khelif, please sue for the rights to Harry Potter
Imane Khelif, please sue for the rights to Harry Potter https://t.co/oTtStRCYEl
— Jenny Nicholson (@JennyENicholson) 12 August 2024
On Tuesday, diversity brought the news that Khelif has filed a complaint for cyberbullying with the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office’s Anti-Online Hate Center (National Center for Combating Online Hate). The criminal complaint specifically names JK Rowling and X-owner/Tesla founder Elon Musk.
“On August 13, (the National Center for Combating Hate on the Internet) contacted the OCLCH (Central Office for Combating Crimes against Humanity and Hate Crimes) to conduct an investigation into charges of cyber harassment based on gender, public insult based on gender, public incitement to discrimination and public insult based on origin,” the Paris prosecutor’s office said in a statement to Diversity.
Khelif filed the lawsuit against X, meaning it was filed against “persons unknown” under French law. This allows prosecutors to investigate anyone on the social media platform who posts hate speech against Khelif, even those writing under faceless, anonymous accounts.
JK Rowling and Elon Musk were specifically named in the lawsuit as examples of those spreading hate against Khelif, but they are among the thousands of users prosecutors will investigate.
Nabil Boudi, Khelif’s French lawyer, added that the authorities were among numerous people being investigated by former US President Donald Trump.
“Trump tweeted, so whether he is named in our lawsuit or not, he will inevitably be investigated as part of the indictment,” Boudi said Diversity.
Although the lawsuit was filed in France, it could target foreign figures. Many countries, including the United States, have branches of the French Anti-Hate Speech Office that have existing agreements with France.
“The public prosecutor’s office for combating hate speech on the Internet has the possibility to request legal assistance from other countries,” said Boudi.
The investigation could target anyone who posted hate speech about Khelif, even those who have retracted their comments or apologized personally. The lawsuit is against anyone who harassed Khelif, not the social media platform itself. In serious cases, the culprits could face jail time.
Pedro Diaz, Khelif’s coach, said the athlete and “everyone around her” were “incredibly affected” by the harassment campaign.
“The first time she fought at the Olympics, there was this crazy storm outside the ring,” Diaz said Diversity. “I have never seen anything so disgusting in my life.”
He urged Khelif to stay away from social media until the end of the Olympics.
“She is so smart and incredibly motivated,” Diaz said. “(Her gold medal) felt like the best victory of my coaching career.”
What do you think about JK Rowling’s transformation from a beloved children’s author to a transphobic activist? Share your thoughts with Inside the Magic in the comments.
