"I'm prepared to go to jail" -JK Rowling reacts to facing hate after report claiming Imane Khelif having 'XY chromosomes and testicles' goes viral

By Animesh Pandey

Modified Nov 05, 2024 03:36 GMT

Famous novelist JK Rowling has finally opened up on the hate campaign she had to endure for speaking out against Algerian boxer Imane Khelif during the Paris Olympics. A recent French-Algerian medical report claimed that Khelif possesses XY chromosomes.

According to the report accessed by reduxx.info, which was drafted in June 2023, Khelif reportedly suffers from a medical condition of 5 alpha reductase deficiency, a sexual development disorder found mostly in biological males. The report also indicates that the Algerian boxer has XY chromosomes, and internal testicles, which indicate the gender identity of the Algerian boxer.

Rowling took to her X handle to express her reactions over the findings. She made a sarcastic comment as she posted,

"Every gender activist in my mentions : 'But Vogue'."

When a user commented that it was rather unfair to call for Rowling's imprisonment for speaking the obvious, the author replied,

"I really don't know how much clearer I can be on this point, because I've said it several times already. If it's an imprisonable offence to accurately describe sex, or to stand up for the importance and reality of sex, I'm prepared to go to jail."

JK Rowling was one of the few celebrities who spoke against the inclusion of Imane Khelif in the Paris Olympics over her gender identity, along with ex NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines and entrepreneur Elon Musk. After winning the Olympic gold medal at the Paris Olympics, Khelif filed a lawsuit against both Rowling and Musk for cyberbullying.

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What did JK Rowling say about Imane Khelif during the Paris Olympics?

Imane Khelif after winning the gold medal in women's welterweight boxing at the Paris Olympics [Image Source : Getty]

JK Rowling had been critical about Imane Khelif's participation at the Paris Olympics over the gender identity. When the Algerian boxer defeated Angela Carini of Italy by virtue of a walkover, the author called out the organizers of Paris Olympics for the same.

Rowling took to her X handle to express her thoughts. After Carini quit her bout against Khelif, the author posted,

"A young female boxer has just had everything she’s worked and trained for snatched away because you allowed a male to get in the ring with her. You’re a disgrace, your ‘safeguarding’ is a joke and #Paris24 will be forever tarnished by the brutal injustice done to Carini."

In another post, Rowling questioned why it was okay for a 'man' like Khelif to beat up a woman [Carini] for entertainment. Rowling posted,

"Watch this (whole thread), then explain why you’re OK with a man beating a woman in public for your entertainment. This isn’t sport. From the bullying cheat in red all the way up to the organisers who allowed this to happen, this is men revelling in their power over women."

Rowling's claims found support from people like Riley Gaines, Elon Musk etc. However, after she won the Olympic gold medal in the welterweight category, Imane Khelif sued both JK Rowling and Elon Musk for online harassment, accusing them of launching a vindictive campaign against her.