Imane Khelif Breaks Down in Tears, Criticizes Elon Musk for “Cruel” Hate Campaign
Imane Khelif, Algeria’s first Olympic gold medalist in women’s welterweight boxing, has publicly condemned Elon Musk for facilitating a “cruel” hate campaign against her. Despite her historic achievement at the Paris Olympics, Khelif’s victory was overshadowed by online harassment and gender controversy, much of which she attributes to Musk’s influence on social media.
Khelif made history at the Paris Games, becoming the first Algerian to win a gold medal in boxing since 1996. However, her triumph was tainted by a wave of online hate, sparked by her disqualification from the Women’s World Championships last year for failing to meet the International Boxing Association’s gender eligibility rules. Although Khelif has always identified as a woman and has competed in women’s boxing, unsubstantiated claims about her gender spread rapidly online.
In an emotional interview with French outlet CLIQUE, Khelif tearfully recounted how Musk was one of the first high-profile figures to target her. “Elon Musk was one of the first to attack me during this hate campaign. He posted a video, and it was retweeted, spreading this buzz against me,” Khelif said. She emphasized that the harassment extended beyond her, affecting her family and her mother, who was visiting the hospital daily during this period.
In response to the cyberbullying, Khelif filed a lawsuit against Musk’s social media platform, X, accusing it of facilitating online harassment. The lawsuit, filed under French law, targets unknown individuals but specifically names Musk and other figures like JK Rowling, accusing them of “acts of aggravated cyber harassment.”
Despite winning gold, Khelif admitted that the relentless scrutiny took a significant emotional toll on her. She expressed her fear and frustration, stating, “It was a very difficult stage. The scenario was very scary… Elon Musk, Donald Trump… this affected me a lot. It hurt me. I cannot describe the amount of fear I experienced.”
However, Khelif also expressed gratitude for the support from her family, the Algerian community, and the broader Arab world, which helped her endure the challenging period. “Thank God, all the people of Algeria and the Arab world knew the real Imane Khelif, with her femininity, her courage, her determination,” she said.
Despite the backlash, Khelif remains determined to continue her boxing career and inspire others. She hopes to emerge from this ordeal even stronger, using the experience to fuel her motivation for future competitions. “I hope I will be even stronger in the future and come back even more motivated,” Khelif said.
Imane Khelif’s story highlights the darker side of social media, where misinformation and hate campaigns can overshadow even the most remarkable achievements. As she continues her journey, Khelif’s resilience and courage serve as a powerful reminder of the strength it takes to rise above adversity and stand proud in the face of unfounded criticism.
