Author Jerry Falade Claims Racial Bias After $2M Book Deal Collapsed Over AI Allegations
Nigerian author Jerry Falade speaks out after his $2M book deal was canceled due to false AI-generated writing claims. Explore the controversy here.
POLICY WIRE — Dallas, USA — Nigerian PhD student Jerry Falade is speaking out after his debut crime novel, Call Me, I’ll Hide the Body, saw a $2 million bidding war collapse following accusations that he utilized artificial intelligence to draft the manuscript. Falade, who maintains his innocence, argues that his unique writing style—heavily influenced by his native Yorùbá language—was unfairly targeted by critics unfamiliar with his cultural storytelling traditions.
The controversy began when an unidentified journalist reportedly ran Falade’s unpublished draft through AI-detection software. Despite the author offering to demonstrate his natural writing process, his literary agents withdrew the book from submission, leading to a swift termination of interest from publishers and Hollywood producers.
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Falade contends that the intense scrutiny he faced reflects a double standard within the publishing industry, noting that white authors often receive more leniency regarding AI usage. He clarifies that he only employed a locally hosted large language model, dolphin-phi, for technical research regarding his protagonist’s chemistry background, rather than for generating prose.
The author, who is currently pursuing a PhD at Southern Methodist University, describes his writing as a tribute to his late mother and a reflection of his upbringing in southwest Nigeria. He has since secured new representation with agent David Vigliano and remains determined to see his work published.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
