As the Olympics are underway in Paris, there is a lot of news pouring out of the city.
As people celebrate the triumphs of some athletes, others are called into question.
A lot of people, including some major celebrities, seem to be getting worked up over the participation of an Algerian Olympian in this year’s Paris Olympics.
Her gender is constantly being called into question.
The issue came to a head during the quarterfinal match for the women’s 66kg boxing event. Imane Khelif, from Algeria, was fighting Italy’s Angela Carini. During the match, Khelif landed a heavy punch on Carini, which caused the Italian Olympian to withdraw from the match just 46 seconds into it.
The event led to people who were speculating about Khelif’s gender not being ‘biologically female’ to further question it and think it was unfair for Italy’s Carini to have to go against someone who was not ‘female.’
Logan and Jake Paul both said they felt frustrated with the Olympic Committee’s decision to allow Imane Khelif’s eligibility. Logan even called it “the purest form of evil.”
Logan Paul, however, has since then walked back on his statement. He deleted his initial tweet about Khelif which said, “This is the purest form of evil unfolding right before our eyes. A man was allowed to beat up a woman on a global stage, crushing her life’s dream while fighting for her deceased father. This delusion must end.
People were upset that Paul had called Khelif a man, so the YouTuber deleted his post and posted a retraction which said, “Oopsies,” it went on, “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***,” he ended his statement.
Claressa Shields, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, also said she was “heartbroken” for all the competing women boxers in the Olympics this year.
Author J.K. Rowling, who has been vocal about her opposition to trans people and transitioning in general, also contributed her two cents.
She wrote, “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.”
Many other prominent figures, including Elon Musk, Dez Bryant, and Sauce Gardner, also contributed their two cents on this issue.