Quebec Author Thélyson Orélien Responds to AI and Plagiarism Allegations Regarding Debut Novel

a thick printed manuscript and a pen resting next to an open laptop on a wooden writing desk, with a window in the background showing a snowy street scene in Qu

AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.

Thélyson Orélien Speaks Out Amid Publishing Controversy

Quebec-based author and poet Thélyson Orélien has issued a statement in response to recent allegations that he used artificial intelligence to write his debut novel, C'était ça ou mourir. The controversy arises after an anonymous accusation and the use of an AI detection tool, leading to both scrutiny and praise within the literary world.

Allegations of Artificial Intelligence Use

Orélien’s novel, which traces the journey of a Haitian migrant escaping to Canada, mirrors his own experience after leaving Haiti in the wake of the 2010 earthquake. While the book had initially received widespread acclaim, the situation changed when an anonymous X account utilized the AI detection tool Pangram on excerpts of the novel. The tool claimed that the text was "100 per cent" generated by AI, and the results were shared publicly on September 21 — the same day Orélien won the Prix du roman Fnac, a notable French literary award.

Orélien refuted the claim as “slander and heresy” in a statement distributed by his publisher, Éditions du Boréal. He acknowledged using AI tools "here and there" for research—particularly for foreign idioms—but maintains that the novel’s text, structure, and plot come "straight from my gut." He stressed, "By attributing to a machine a text that is mine, that belongs to all my people, they have challenged not only my status as a writer but my humanity."

Media Response and Accusations of Racist Harassment

The author described the recent media attention as a "lynching," stating that he has faced racist harassment and finds the experience unbearable. Orélien also challenged the reliability of Pangram, even though experts have generally praised the tool for accuracy in detecting AI-generated writing. Samuel Fitoussi, a French columnist, later revealed himself as one of the five behind the X account that made the initial public accusation against Orélien.

Plagiarism Allegations and Author’s Admission

Following the AI allegations, Orélien also faced plagiarism accusations relating to columns he wrote for newspapers such as La Presse dating back to 2012. He admitted to these acts as "unacceptable" mistakes from his youth, describing them as "youthful indiscretions." Orélien explained that, as an avid reader in a hurry to write after leaving Haiti, he had been influenced by authors whose styles he admired but acknowledged, "Admiration did not give me the right to take—to claim as my own—texts that were not mine."

He requested that C'était ça ou mourir, a novel begun in 2017 and published in 2026, be judged on its own merit, drawing inspiration from his own experiences and interactions with other migrants. "A youthful indiscretion cannot serve as evidence against a novel begun in 2017," he stated, adding, "I didn't write this book to win awards or to become famous. I have nothing to prove to the people who accuse me."

Impact on Literary Prizes and Ongoing Recognition

The controversy has influenced Orélien’s standing in the literary community, as certain festivals and prizes, including the Prix Goncourt, have distanced themselves from him. However, C'était ça ou mourir remains in contention for several distinguished French literary awards: the Prix Renaudot, Prix littéraire de la Porte Dorée, and Prix Médicis.

Orélien was on a press tour in France when the accusations emerged and has now returned to Quebec. According to Éditions du Boréal, he will not comment further or give interviews for the time being.