Author Thélyson Orélien Denies Using AI for Novel While Admitting Past Plagiarism

Thélyson Orélien Denies AI Novel Allegations While Admitting Past Plagiarism

Haitian-Canadian author Thélyson Orélien denies allegations that he used artificial intelligence to write his bestselling debut novel, C’était ça ou mourir, while admitting to instances of plagiarism in his earlier work, CTV News reported. The novel, which translates to It was either that or dying, follows a Haitian teacher escaping gang violence in Port-au-Prince and making a perilous journey through the Americas to Quebec. Released by Montreal publishing house Éditions du Boréal, the book quickly became a literary sensation in France and Canada before facing scrutiny over its production and the author’s past writing.

Origin of the Artificial Intelligence Allegations and Detection Scores

The controversy began in September when a social media account using the name “Balance ton Claude” shared an analysis of the novel using the AI-detection software Pangram, alleging the book was generated by a machine. French essayist Samuel Fitoussi later claimed ownership of the account, stating he managed it with other individuals. When The Canadian Press put an excerpt of the novel through Pangram, a message on the platform stated the text was a mix of AI and human-written content. In a statement released on Oct. 13, 2026, Orélien rejected claims that a machine wrote his book, asserting that no sentence was generated by AI and that he only used digital tools for research, such as looking up foreign-language expressions. Boréal stated that its editorial process began with a completed manuscript and did not involve AI, though the publisher noted it could neither confirm nor refute the external AI detection claims.

Literary Prizes Dropped and La Presse Plagiarism Investigation

Following the emergence of the AI allegations and subsequent reports of plagiarism in his earlier career, the Academie Goncourt removed the novel on Sept. 25, 2026, from consideration for the Prix Goncourt. The academy cited analyses it considered credible alongside separate plagiarism accusations. Meanwhile, an investigation by the Montreal newspaper La Presse reported that articles attributed to Orélien between 2012 and 2014 contained passages from previously published works by other authors. Specific findings included material in his 2012 short story Où va le monde appearing to be taken from the 1960 book Le matin des magiciens by Louis Pauwels and Jacques Bergier, as well as a 2013 commentary on heroes mirroring an English-language article from the Philippine Star in Manila.

Thélyson Orélien Apologizes for Errors of Youth and Cites Harassment

In his October statement issued through his publisher, Orélien apologized for what he described as unacceptable mistakes in his youth, explaining that after leaving Haiti following the 2010 earthquake, he rushed to establish himself as a writer in Canada and borrowed phrases from authors he admired. However, he maintained that his debut novel—which he began drafting in Laval, north of Montreal, in 2017 and completed in 2019—was entirely his own creation. He condemned weeks of threats, racist harassment, and public attacks, stating that attributing his work to a machine challenged not only his status as a writer but also his humanity. Despite the removal from the Prix Goncourt, the novel remains in contention for other honors, including the Prix Renaudot, the Prix littéraire de la Porte Dorée, and the Prix Médicis.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Literary Controversy

Which literary prizes dropped the novel from consideration?

The Academie Goncourt removed Thélyson Orélien’s novel from consideration for the Prix Goncourt on Sept. 25, 2026, citing credible analyses regarding AI use and separate plagiarism allegations.

What specific earlier works were found to contain plagiarized passages?

According to investigations by La Presse, Orélien’s 2012 short story Où va le monde contained passages from Louis Pauwels and Jacques Bergier’s 1960 book Le matin des magiciens, and a 2013 commentary mirrored an article from the Philippine Star.

Which major literary awards is the novel still eligible to win?

Despite the controversy, C’était ça ou mourir remains in the running for the Prix Renaudot, the Prix littéraire de la Porte Dorée, and the Prix Médicis.

When did the author write the first draft of the book?

Orélien stated that he began writing the novel in Laval in 2017 and completed a first draft exceeding 300 pages in 2019.