Algerian female boxer Imane Khelif has openly condemned billionaire Elon Musk for what she describes as a “cruel campaign” against her during the Summer Olympics. Despite winning a gold medal in the women’s welterweight category in Paris, Khelif faced widespread controversy and abuse centered around her gender.
Khelif, who was born female, was previously banned from the World Boxing Championships for allegedly having male ‘XY’ chromosomes. This decision, which stirred global outrage, led to a torrent of accusations and abuse, including posts from high-profile figures like Elon Musk and Donald Trump.
During the Olympics, Musk reportedly shared a post on his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), which fueled negative commentary calling for the exclusion of men from women’s sports following Khelif’s victory over Italy’s Angela Carini in the round of 16.
In an emotional interview on the French TV show CLIQUE, Khelif expressed her distress over Musk’s actions, saying, “Elon Musk was one of the first to attack me during this hate campaign. He posted this video, and it was retweeted, spreading this cruel buzz against me.”
Khelif, visibly upset, further reflected on the impact this campaign had on her family, particularly her mother, who faced severe stress during the ordeal. “You hate me, but you don’t even know me… You have been cruel to me, cruel to my family, to my mother,” she added.
Despite the harassment, Khelif, a devout Muslim, remained resilient, stating, “God is my guide… I hope I will be even stronger in the future and come back even more motivated.”
Khelif has since filed a cyberbullying lawsuit in France, reportedly naming Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and author J.K. Rowling for their involvement in the harassment she endured during the Games.
Reflecting on the situation in a separate interview with Algerian outlet El Birad, Khelif shared, “The noise from politicians, athletes, stars, and artists — Elon Musk and Donald Trump — hurt me a lot. I cannot describe the fear I had, but thank God, I was able to overcome it. The people of Algeria and the Arab world knew me with my femininity, my courage, and my will.”
