Entertainment · Books & Arts · 1 hr ago
Thélyson Orélien denies using AI to write novel, admits plagiarism
Thélyson Orélien denies that AI wrote any sentence of his novel, “C’était ça ou mourir.”
The Canadian-Haitian writer says he used tools for research but wrote the book himself.
He apologized and accepted responsibility for plagiarizing texts by established authors after moving to Canada.
He says he began writing the novel in Quebec in 2017 and finished a first draft in 2019.
The book follows a migrant’s journey from Haiti to Canada.
The AI allegations led to the novel being dropped from the Goncourt selection, though it remains in the selection for other literary prizes, including the Renaudot.
Orélien returned to Canada in late September, interrupting a promotional tour in France.
Thélyson Orélien says no sentence in his novel C’était ça ou mourir was created by artificial intelligence.
He acknowledges responsibility for plagiarism and apologizes for what he calls unacceptable mistakes.
He says he used tools for research but not to generate the novel’s sentences.
The novel was removed from the Goncourt selection after accusations that generative AI was used extensively to write it.
Orélien says he began writing the novel in Quebec in autumn 2017 and completed a first draft in 2019.
- Who
- Thélyson Orélien, a Canadian-Haitian writer.
- What
- He denies using AI to create sentences in his novel and admits responsibility for plagiarism.
- When
- He made the statement on October 13, 2026.
- Where
- The statement was sent to AFP; Orélien lives in Quebec, Canada.
- Why
- He responded to accusations that AI was used to write his novel and to plagiarism allegations.
AI-use accusers
Thélyson Orélien
AI use in the novel
AI-use accusers
Orélien has been accused of using generative AI extensively to write the novel.
Thélyson Orélien
He says no sentence in the book was created by a machine.
Orélien says he began writing the novel in Quebec.
Orélien says he completed a first draft.
Orélien was in France for a promotional tour.
Orélien returned to Canada, interrupting the tour.
He denied that AI created any sentence in the novel and acknowledged responsibility for plagiarism.
- Novel
- C’était ça ou mourir
- Author
- Thélyson Orélien
- First draft
- 2019
- Goncourt selection
- The novel was removed after AI-use accusations
- Other prize selection
- The novel remained in the Renaudot selection
- Residence
- Quebec, Canada
What people are saying
This is slander and heresy.
But no sentence in this book was created by a machine.
I committed unacceptable mistakes.
Sources
"Des erreurs inacceptables": Thélyson Orélien reconnaît des plagiats mais affirme qu'"aucune phrase" de son roman "n'a été créée" par une IA
Thélyson Orélien : l’auteur canado-haïtien reconnaît être responsable de plagiats, « des erreurs inacceptables
Affaire Thélyson Orélien : l’IA ou la mort possible de l’auteur
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