Award-Winning Author Thélyson Orélien Breaks Silence On AI Allegations and Past Plagiarism
\n\nA literary prize was supposed to be the crowning moment of Thélyson Orélien's career. Instead, the Haitian-Canadian novelist found himself at the centre of a controversy involving artificial intelligence, plagiarism and questions about the authenticity of his writing. Now, after weeks of public scrutiny, he has acknowledged one wrongdoing while firmly denying another. On 13 October 2026, Orélien admitted to plagiarising earlier works but rejected allegations that his acclaimed debut novel, 'C'était ça ou mourir' (It Was Either That or Die), had been written using artificial intelligence.
\n\nPublished in France by Grasset in August, 'C'était ça ou mourir' follows a Haitian migrant fleeing violence and travelling through Latin America in search of safety in Canada. The novel attracted considerable critical attention, winning the Prix du roman Fnac on 21 September and securing a place on the prestigious Prix Goncourt longlist.
\n\nHowever, on the same day as his Fnac victory, an account on X called Balance ton Claude accused Orélien of using generative AI to produce almost the entire novel. The allegations relied on AI-detection software. French essayist Samuel Fitoussi subsequently acknowledged his involvement in managing the account.
\n\nThe…
Original source: https://www.timesnownews.com/lifestyle
