
The tour in France of the author of “It was that or to die” was interrupted after his withdrawal from the Goncourt list.
Targeted by accusations of using artificial intelligence and plagiarism for his novel, the writer Thélyson Orélien interrupted his tour in France and returned to Quebec, after the Prix Goncourt withdrew his book.
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Writer Thélyson Orélien faces accusations of using artificial intelligence for his novel “It Was That or Die” as well as suspicions of plagiarism.
Having gone from shadow to light in a few weeks, Quebec writer of Haitian origin Thélyson Orélien has been caught in the storm since accusations of using artificial intelligence for his first novel, It Was That or Die. After Goncourt's decision to remove the book from his list, and while the controversy continued, his tour in France was interrupted.
Thélyson Orélien, whose case caused a shock wave in publishing, returned to Quebec during the weekend, AFP learned Monday from those around him. “He left for Canada this weekend,” said this source close to his professional entourage. The 38-year-old author had been in France since the beginning of September and still had to go to Paris and the regions to continue promoting his book, initially praised by critics.
In addition to suspicions surrounding the use of AI, the Quebecer faces accusations of plagiarism linked to texts published more than ten years ago in Quebec, where he has lived since 2010 after fleeing his native island. A short story published in 2012, in particular, presents disturbing similarities with a text written by the French journalist Louis Pauwels in 1960.

The rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris describes whistleblower Chawki Benzehra as an “obscure blogger” and denounces the comments of the former French ambassador to Algeria, Xavier Driencourt, in a press release concerning the arrest of two Algerian influencers.

The rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris described whistleblower Chawki Benzehra as an “obscure blogger” in a press release, denouncing his links with the arrest of two Algerian influencers and criticizing the comments of the former French ambassador to Algeria, Xavier Driencourt, relayed by CNews.

Point journalist Hadrien Brachet succeeds Charles Sapin for the Sunday political editorial on France Inter. The departure of his predecessor followed a staff strike linked to his duties at Valeurs Acteurs.

Essayist Samuel Fitoussi confirmed Friday on X to be one of the people behind the anonymous account “Balance ton Claude”, which had accused the writer Thélyson Orélien of having used AI to write his novel. This revelation puts an end to speculation and triggers a wave of reactions and criticism online.
Samuel Fitoussi reveals that he is the creator of the X account “Balance ton Claude”, which accused the author Thélyson Orélien of using AI for his novel. The essayist invokes the fight against digital “slop”.

The novel “It was that or to die” by Thélyson Orélien, a success of the literary season and winner of the 2026 Fnac Novel Prize, is targeted by accusations of the use of artificial intelligence on the X network.