Full Breakdown
Quebec Author Thélyson Orélien Faces AI and Plagiarism Allegations Amid Prize Controversy
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Allegations and Immediate Fallout
In early March, Thélyson Orélien’s novel *C’était ça ou mourir* was flagged by the U.S.-based Pangram software as containing passages that may have been generated by artificial intelligence. An anonymous social-media account named “Balance ton Claude” claimed the software indicated the text was “almost entirely” AI-written. The same software later identified similarities between articles attributed to Orélien between 2012 and 2014 and previously published works, prompting fresh plagiarism accusations. The Canadian Press has not independently verified either set of claims.
Publisher and Literary Community Response
Les Éditions du Boréal, the Montreal publisher of the novel, announced it is suspending promotional activities while citing Orélien’s well-being. The publisher emphasized that “plagiarism is an unacceptable practice” and said it cannot yet confirm or refute the allegations. The Salon du livre de l’Estrie in Sherbrooke removed Orélien as a guest of honour and withdrew his scheduled appearances. The Académie Goncourt, which had listed the novel among its finalists, stated that it is reviewing the emerging information before deciding how to protect the integrity of the prize; academy president Philippe Claudel communicated this via e-mail.
Author’s Position and Background of the Work
Orélien denied using AI, asserting that his writing draws from a Haitian and Caribbean literary tradition that values poetry, imagery, repetition, and rhythm. He described recent online attacks as “numerous racist attacks” aimed at harming him rather than genuine reader criticism. *C’était ça ou mourir*—published in March—depicts a Haitian history teacher fleeing violence in Port-au-Prince and immigrating to Canada. The novel won France’s Prix du Roman Fnac, selected by a jury of 400 booksellers and 400 readers, and remains in contention for the Prix Goncourt and the Prix Médicis.
Criticism of AI-Detection Tools and Ongoing Investigation
Quebec artists’ unions, including the Union des artistes and the Société des auteurs de radio, télévision et cinéma, have voiced concerns that AI-detection software can produce false positives and may force creators to prove the originality of their work. These groups have not commented specifically on Orélien’s case. The Académie Goncourt’s pending decision and the publisher’s continued investigation constitute the next steps in resolving the controversy.