Jerry Falade, a Black writer whose debut crime novel was reportedly tied to a $2 million publishing deal, says allegations that he used artificial intelligence to write the book have led to his deal being pulled in error. Multiple outlets report that Falade has publicly responded to claims about the novel’s authorship, stating that he is “definitely innocent.” The reports say that Falade’s representatives withdrew the sale of his first novel, titled “Call Me, I’ll Hide the Body,” after concerns were raised about whether AI was used in the writing process. Falade also argues that the allegations may be racially motivated, pointing to the circumstances surrounding how he was dropped. The accounts describe his comments as an effort to contest the basis for the publisher’s concerns and to address the uncertainty created by the alleged withdrawal of the deal. The available reports focus on Falade’s denial and on the fact that the publishing arrangement is no longer proceeding, but they do not provide independent verification of the AI claims or details about any specific evidence or formal findings. The story centers on competing assertions about authorship and the impact on a planned book release.