The Académie Goncourt announced on September 25, 2026, that it had removed C’était ça ou mourir by Thélyson Orélien, a Haitian-born author based in Quebec, from the Goncourt Prize’s first shortlist. It cited suspicions that most of the novel was generated by AI, as well as plagiarism found in Orélien’s earlier writing. Orélien denied using AI to write the book. His Canadian publisher said it could neither confirm nor deny the allegations about the writing process.

The academy said multiple analyses by researchers and journalists agreed that the work was “probably largely AI-generated.” Its statement did not provide details of the methods or evidence used. The academy said the removal was intended to protect the fairness of the prize and its own integrity. It described promoting and recognizing literature written by people as its central role and said it does not support or endorse creative writing produced with AI assistance. The message was also directed to affiliated awards involving high school students and incarcerated people, and to more than 50 “Choix Goncourt” prizes in which readers in various countries select a title from the shortlisted books.

According to a Reuters report dated September 23, the suspicions spread after the X account “Balance ton Claude” analyzed parts of the novel with Pangram, an AI-writing detection tool, and claimed that almost the entire work had been written by AI. Orélien said he was compiling supporting material with his French and Quebec publishers.

Les Éditions du Boréal, which published the novel in Canada, said in a statement sent to news organizations on September 24 and made public the next day that AI was not used in the publisher’s work, including editor-author exchanges, revisions and proofreading. The publisher said it and the author were gathering materials about the writing before the manuscript was submitted, but it could neither confirm nor deny the allegations and urged people to avoid rushing to judgment. It also expressed concern about plagiarism allegations involving another text, describing those as a matter of copyright respect and editorial integrity separate from AI use. The company condemned hateful messages and personal attacks against the author, paused promotional activity to protect his health, and said it would continue selling the book.

C’était ça ou mourir is Orélien’s debut novel. It follows teacher Jonas Dorléon, who flees Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, and travels through countries including the Dominican Republic, Brazil and Mexico on his way to Canada. Grasset published the novel in France on August 19, 2026, and it won that year’s Fnac Novel Prize.

The Académie Goncourt announced on September 25, 2026, that it had removed C’était ça ou mourir by Thélyson Orélien, a Haitian-born author based in Quebec, from the Goncourt Prize’s first shortlist. It cited suspicions that most of the novel was generated by AI, as well as plagiarism found in Orélien’s earlier writing. Orélien denied using AI to write the book. His Canadian publisher said it could neither confirm nor deny the allegations about the writing process.

The academy said multiple analyses by researchers and journalists agreed that the work was “probably largely AI-generated.” Its statement did not provide details of the methods or evidence used. The academy said the removal was intended to protect the fairness of the prize and its own integrity. It described promoting and recognizing literature written by people as its central role and said it does not support or endorse creative writing produced with AI assistance. The message was also directed to affiliated awards involving high school students and incarcerated people, and to more than 50 “Choix Goncourt” prizes in which readers in various countries select a title from the shortlisted books.

According to a Reuters report dated September 23, the suspicions spread after the X account “Balance ton Claude” analyzed parts of the novel with Pangram, an AI-writing detection tool, and claimed that almost the entire work had been written by AI. Orélien said he was compiling supporting material with his French and Quebec publishers.

Les Éditions du Boréal, which published the novel in Canada, said in a statement sent to news organizations on September 24 and made public the next day that AI was not used in the publisher’s work, including editor-author exchanges, revisions and proofreading. The publisher said it and the author were gathering materials about the writing before the manuscript was submitted, but it could neither confirm nor deny the allegations and urged people to avoid rushing to judgment. It also expressed concern about plagiarism allegations involving another text, describing those as a matter of copyright respect and editorial integrity separate from AI use. The company condemned hateful messages and personal attacks against the author, paused promotional activity to protect his health, and said it would continue selling the book.

C’était ça ou mourir is Orélien’s debut novel. It follows teacher Jonas Dorléon, who flees Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, and travels through countries including the Dominican Republic, Brazil and Mexico on his way to Canada. Grasset published the novel in France on August 19, 2026, and it won that year’s Fnac Novel Prize.