Québec Author Acknowledges Earlier Plagiarism, Rejects AI Allegations
Québec author Thélyson Orélien has admitted to past plagiarism but denies using AI to write his award-winning novel It Was Either That Or Die. A La Presse investigation found substantial evidence of plagiarism in work he published from 2012 to 2014, before AI tools existed, and the Goncourt Prize removed him from consideration. Orélien called the earlier plagiarism unacceptable and a youthful indiscretion.
The controversy involves a Québec writer whose award-winning novel, It Was Either That Or Die, remains at the center of competing claims. A Canadian newspaper investigation reported considerable evidence that work he published between 2012 and 2014 contained plagiarism. Those years came before AI writing tools existed, so the findings concern earlier conduct rather than machine-generated text.
Orélien has acknowledged the earlier plagiarism, describing it as wrong and tied to his youth. He continues to deny using AI to produce the novel. The Goncourt Prize removed him from consideration. He said he had admired certain cadences and sentence patterns but conceded that admiration did not justify taking or claiming others’ work.
The case may intensify scrutiny of literary awards and publishing gatekeepers, especially as AI suspicions become more common. Readers and fellow authors could question how past misconduct is weighed against current work, while prize committees may face pressure to clarify eligibility and vetting. For Orélien, the admission and removal from Goncourt consideration could overshadow his novel and shape future opportunities. The episode may also complicate public debate by separating proven earlier plagiarism from unproven AI claims.