PARIS, Oct 13 (Reuters) – Haitian-Canadian author Thelyson Orelien has denied allegations that he used artificial intelligence to write his bestselling novel, while acknowledging instances of past plagiarism. In a letter sent to Reuters and other media outlets by his French publisher Grasset, Orelien addressed the claims concerning his award-winning novel, “C’etait Ca ou Mourir” (“It Was Either That or Die”), which was released this year.

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The controversy began when an anonymous account on X, “Balance ton Claude,” claimed in September that an AI detection tool indicated the 2026 novel was primarily generated by AI. French essayist Samuel Fitoussi later took responsibility for the account, stating he ran it with others.

Additionally, the Canadian newspaper La Presse reported that a 2012 short story by Orelien contained plagiarized passages from a book by French author Louis Pauwels, and a 2013 opinion piece had lifted content from The Philippine Star newspaper.

While Orelien denied the use of AI, he admitted to the past plagiarism, stating that his admiration for other authors did not excuse his actions, which he called “unacceptable mistakes.” He expressed that the media scrutiny and harassment he has faced, described as “media lynching” and racially charged, have been overwhelming, and asserted that his novel should be evaluated based on its own merits.

The allegations have sparked discussions surrounding race, literary value, and originality within the French literary community. “C’etait Ca ou Mourir,” which tells the story of a Haitian migrant’s journey through Latin America to Canada, has received several literary awards and was anticipated to be translated into multiple languages. Orelien emphasized that the book is deeply personal, reflecting his own experiences and those of other migrants, framing it as a product of his own labor and creativity. Following the controversy, the organizers of the French Goncourt literary prize removed his book from their longlist. (Reporting by Sophie Louet and Charlotte Van Campenhout, Editing by Rosalba O’Brien)