Author J.K. Rowling and country musician John Rich are among a host of prominent figures to have spoken out about a controversial boxing match at the Paris 2024 Olympics that saw a tearful fighter abandon the bout just seconds in.
On Thursday, Italy's Angela Carini stopped her bout against Algerian Imane Khelif—who had previously failed a gender eligibility test in 2023—after 46 seconds. Carini fell to her knees in the middle of the ring and said "this isn't fair," per the BBC.
Khelif was one of two female boxers who had previously been banned for failing gender eligibility and testosterone tests. The other was Lin Yu‑ting of Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), who is due to fight Uzbekistan's Sitora Turdibekova on Friday.
The pair were barred from competing in the 2023 women's World Championships by the International Amateur Boxing Association (IBA). Its president, Umar Kremlev, said at the time that their DNA tests had "proved they had XY chromosomes (the male chromosomes) and were thus excluded," per The Guardian.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed them to compete at this year's games because the two boxers "are women according to their passports" and also passed its own eligibility tests. Newsweek contacted the IOC via email for comment.
It is not known whether Khelif and Lin identify as transgender or intersex, or if they have hyperandrogenism, a term used to describe high levels of testosterone. However, it has reignited a debate about transgender athletes competing in women's sports.
As footage of the moment spread across social media, Harry Potter writer Rowling—who has faced backlash over her comments about transgender people for around five years—slammed Khelif's inclusion in the Olympics.
"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 organizers who allowed this to happen, this is men reveling in their power over women," Rowling wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
In another post, Rowling directed criticism at a video clip showing Kirsty Burrows, head of the Safe Sport Unit at the IOC, speaking about how the organization is offering "the most comprehensive package of mental health and safeguarding initiatives than any other Olympic or sporting event in history."
"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," Rowling responded. "You're a disgrace, your 'safeguarding' is a joke and #Paris24 will be forever tarnished by the brutal injustice done to Carini."
Rowling also shared a photo of Khelif looking at a tearful Carini after their bout came to a premature end.
"Could any picture sum up our new men's rights movement better?" the writer asked. "The smirk of a male who's knows he's protected by a misogynist sporting establishment enjoying the distress of a woman he's just punched in the head, and whose life's ambition he's just shattered."
Country star Rich, who regularly espouses conservative viewpoints, also joined the conversation by referring to Khelif as a male.
"The Olympics supports men battering women," Rich commented in an X post. "It will be boycotted in the Rich household. Repost if you agree."
Rich also responded to footage shared on the platform by Oli London, a British influencer who previously identified as transracial, gender neutral, and transgender.
"I remember the good 'ol days when society used to condemn and convict men who beat up women," he wrote in response to the clip of the brief bout.
Also weighing in was Caitlyn Jenner, a 1976 Olympic decathlon gold medalist who transitioned to female in 2015 and has been a vocal critic of transgender women in sports. Last year, she launched an initiative called Fairness First. The political action committee that describes itself as "a big tent movement, non-partisan in nature, with the intention of protecting women and girls in sport—especially in light of recent events with radical gender ideology."
"This is shameful!" Jenner commented in response to Rowling's post. "SHAME ON THE IOC! No men in women's sports!"
TV personality Piers Morgan, who has also shared his views on gender identities, waded into the discussion by taking aim at a British politician.
"So disgusting," the broadcaster wrote in reaction to a photo of Carini crying. "I once asked our new Sports minister [Lisa Nandy] if she would be happy for Floyd Mayweather to identify as a woman and compete in the Olympics against women, and she refused to say it would be wrong/unfair. Be interested to hear her response to this …"
Musician Ted Nugent responded to the controversy by sharing Fox News' post on YouTuber-turned-wrestler Logan Paul's comments condemning the fight.
"This is the purest form of evil unfolding right before your eyes," the outlet quoted Paul as saying on X. "A man was allowed to beat up a woman on a global stage, crushing her life's dream while fighting for her deceased father."
Sharing his own take, Nugent added: "Call it Satan or call it crazy, there are people on this planet right now who have gotten so lost, that a biological man is fighting a woman in the Olympics. What happened to us?!?"
Paul, who deleted his initial X post, wrote in a follow-up regarding Khelif: "I might be guilty of spreading misinformation along with the entirety of this app.
"Although she's been previously disqualified for failing a 'gender test' and has XY chromosomes, some sources say Imane Khelif was born a biological woman.
"I stand by my sentiment that biological men should not compete against biological women in any sport and if you disagree you're a sick f***."
Former The Biggest Loser trainer Jillian Michaels commented on X after the bout: "What are we doing here guys[?] It's not transphobic to think this is is unsafe and unfair."
When an X user pointed out that Khelif was defeated by another woman in the 2020 Olympics, Michaels responded: "I am aware that Imane fought in the 2020 Olympics. That said, she failed to meet gender eligibility tests at the Women's World Boxing Championships because testing revealed she had XY chromosomes.
"Now, assuming I'm crazy I can point to Fallon Fox, a transgender fighter, who fractured her biological female opponents orbital bone. So—how bout that one. Does that seem safe or fair? This isn't about transphobia it's about common sense. And if we are willing to admit this needs to be discussed then maybe we can start to find solutions for inclusion and an equal playing field as each sport is different."
The fitness guru also rushed back on another X user's demands that she refer to Khelif using male pronouns, writing: "I refer to people by whatever pronoun they choose because it doesn't hurt anyone to be respectful of that. And it shows good will when trying to have difficult conversations.
"Where this gets complicated is when someone's wishes and personal choices affect the ability to provide a level playing field to which all athletes should be afforded. My goal is to get people talking so we can find solutions. Attacking each other will never beget any peace or progress."
Comedian Rob Schneider, who had already announced that he was boycotting the Olympics over its opening ceremony, said on X: "If I wasn't boycotting the @Olympics when they used drag queens to insult Christianity, I sure would now that they allow Men to beat the s*** out of women!! And if YOU don't, why not?!"
In another post, he stated: "If ALL WOMEN ATHLETES REFUSE TO COMPETE AGAINST THESE MISOGYNISTIC A**H#LES THIS LUNACY WOULD END TOMORROW …"
Conservative political commentator Tomi Lahren also joined the conversation by bringing up unrelated issues faced by another member of Team USA.
"If Sha'Carri Richardson was axed for cannabis, why the hell would a boxer with XY male chromosomes be allowed to beat the c*** out of a female at the Olympics?" Lahren asked. "Sick and wrong."
Amid the outrage, Gemma Stone, a transgender writer and co-founder of the Trans Writes news site, recently told Newsweek that the Olympics controversy has given "bigots" incentive to share their anti-transgender views online.
"I remain completely unsurprised that in lieu of any transgender people competing in this year's Olympics, the transphobes have sought to instead imagine one the same way they imagine kids being rushed onto hormones or the risks of letting trans women pee in peace," Stone said. "Were obsession an Olympic sport, these bigots would certainly have my vote for the gold."
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