J.K. Rowling breaks silence after lawsuit, doubles down on criticism of boxer Imane Khelif

J.K. Rowling reignites controversy by criticizing Algerian boxer Imane Khelif following her lawsuit.

J.K. Rowling has broken her silence after being named in a lawsuit by Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, reigniting controversy with renewed criticism of the athlete. The Harry Potter author, who had been silent on X (formerly Twitter) since August 9, returned to the platform to share an opinion article criticizing Khelif's recent makeover, following the boxer’s legal complaint in France that accused Rowling of aggravated cyber harassment.

"It’s important to highlight that launching a PR campaign and applying layers of thick makeup requires far more time and effort than simply making DNA test results public." -- ✍️@SwipeWright https://t.co/mRECJgNX3X

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 23, 2024

Rowling shared an article by evolutionary biologist Colin Wright, who argued that Khelif’s makeover was a "hyper-feminizing PR campaign" designed to distract from the controversy surrounding her gender. Wright asserted, "the fairness and safety of women’s boxing is at stake," a sentiment echoed by Rowling in her post. "It's important to highlight that launching a PR campaign and applying layers of thick makeup requires far more time and effort than simply making DNA test results public," she wrote.

The controversy surrounding Khelif stems from her inclusion in the recent Paris Olympics, where she was allowed to compete despite failing an unspecified gender-verification test at the International Boxing Association (IBA) World Championships. Khelif, who was one of two female boxers barred from competing by the IBA, was cleared to compete by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) based on her passport and eligibility tests.

Rowling previously criticized Khelif's inclusion in the Olympics, tweeting after Khelif's bout with Italian boxer Angela Carini, "Watch this (whole thread), then explain why you're OK with a man beating a woman in public for your entertainment." The incident has sparked global debate, with some incorrectly labeling Khelif as transgender.

Following the backlash, Khelif returned to Algeria, where she received a hero's welcome. In an interview with Algerian network El Birad, Khelif described the impact of the controversy on her Olympic journey, stating, "It hurt a lot. I can't describe the fear I had but thank God I was able to overcome it."

Khelif's lawsuit against Rowling and others alleges "aggravated cyber-harassment," according to her lawyer, Nabil Boudi, quoted by the Associated Press. The boxer emphasized the personal toll the situation has taken, calling it "a big shame for my family, for the honor of Algeria, for the women of Algeria and especially the Arab world."