Thélyson Orélien denies AI involvement in bestseller while admitting earlier plagiarism

The Reader Times desk 14 October 2026 Based on Livres Hebdo reporting

Editorial illustration of a library office where books and artificial intelligence research meet. — Editorial illustration for The Reader Times.

Canadian‑Haitian author Thélyson Orélien rejects claims he used artificial intelligence to write his best‑seller C’était ça ou mourir, but acknowledges past plagiarism and apologises.

Thélyson Orélien, whose novel C’était ça ou mourir was published by Grasset, has publicly denied any use of artificial intelligence in drafting the work.

In a statement, the writer said he never employed AI tools for the book’s composition, countering accusations that the bestseller relied on such technology.

At the same time, Orélien admitted to having committed plagiarism in earlier works and offered an apology for those transgressions.

Despite the controversy, sales of C’était ça ou mourir continue to rise, according to recent reports.