Jason Arday, the academic who resigned from the University of Cambridge last week amid allegations of plagiarism and questions about aspects of his career, has been found dead at his home in south London.
The 41-year-old was pronounced dead after police were called to his home shortly after 3pm on Friday, August 14.
The Metropolitan Police said officers were alerted by the London Ambulance Service.
A police spokesperson said: “A 41-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.
“At this time his death is being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious. The case is being investigated by officers from the Met’s central south command unit. A file will be prepared for the coroner.”
Police are not currently believed to suspect the involvement of another person in his death.
Campaign of Abuse
Jason Arday’s family said he had endured sustained public criticism for more than three years after taking up his Cambridge position.
In a statement, the family said: “Jason was subjected to a campaign of sustained abuse for more than three years since he accepted the role of professor at Cambridge University by those who would leave no stone unturned in their quest to undermine him.
“The campaign of misinformation was too much for Jason, who was a gentle man and who always wanted to see the best in everyone.
“We are in shock to have lost this amazing father, partner, brother, uncle and son.
“We won’t comment further at this point beyond asking the press to leave us alone now, and to stop the campaign of harassment which has been waged against Jason and his family for too long.”
Sadiq Khan Condemns Public Treatment of Jason Arday
London Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed shock over Arday’s death and criticised what he described as a campaign of public abuse against the academic.
“I’m devastated for the family and friends of Jason Arday. He faced an unacceptable public hounding and campaign of abuse. I know many Londoners will be angry and upset this evening,” Khan said.
“Jason Arday was the victim of a pernicious public shaming that other people in his position simply wouldn’t have faced. His death was a tragedy, but once again it should be a wake-up call for all of us.”
Cambridge ‘Desperately Saddened’
Arday became professor of sociology of education at Cambridge in 2023, becoming the university’s youngest-ever Black professor.
However, his position came under increasing scrutiny after allegations that he had plagiarised parts of his PhD thesis and questions were raised about claims he had made about his career and achievements.
Cambridge Vice-Chancellor Prof Deborah Prentice said: “We are desperately saddened to hear this tragic news. Our heartfelt sympathies go to Jason Arday’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”
Durham University, where Arday worked from 2019 to 2021, also paid tribute to him.
“We are shocked and terribly sad to learn of the death of Jason Arday,” the university said.
“He is remembered at Durham as a kind and warm person who actively sought to promote opportunities for PhD students. We want to express our deepest sympathy to his family who are in our thoughts.”
Jason Arday Academic Controversy and Resignation
Arday announced his resignation from Cambridge and Jesus College last week, saying the continuing controversy had taken a serious toll on him and those close to him.
In his resignation statement, he said: “It is with profound sadness that I write to resign, with immediate effect, from my position at the University of Cambridge and Jesus College.
“When I accepted the extraordinary honour of becoming professor of sociology at Cambridge, it was, without question, the greatest professional privilege of my life.”
He said he had decided to leave because the “relentless accusations, speculation and public commentary have taken a profound toll on me and on those I love”.
Cambridge had announced an internal inquiry after receiving what it called “new information” concerning Arday’s academic qualifications and honorary appointments.
The university also referred to “a number of ongoing complaints regarding academic misconduct”.
Jesus College said it would conduct its own inquiry, while the University of Glasgow, where Arday had also held an academic position, said it would examine his credentials.
The controversy initially centred on accusations that Arday had plagiarised the work of another academic in his PhD thesis.
Arday denied the allegations. Earlier this year, Liverpool John Moores University reviewed the matter and upheld its decision to award him the doctorate.
However, further questions emerged about other aspects of his biography, including claims relating to his charitable fundraising, long-distance running and his childhood.
Arday had said he was nonverbal until the age of 11 and had required extensive speech and language therapy. He also said he remained illiterate until the age of 18.
His account of his early life contributed to his selection as a torchbearer for the 2012 London Olympics.
He later pursued higher education and earned a doctorate in education from Liverpool John Moores University in 2015. He subsequently held several academic positions, including a professorship at the University of Glasgow, before taking up the Cambridge chair.
The allegations triggered a bitter debate within Cambridge, with some academics defending Arday and others questioning how he had been appointed to such a prestigious position.
Cambridge initially resisted calls from senior academics for an independent investigation. But Prentice later agreed to an independent inquiry, acknowledging the “anger and anxiety around this damaging and difficult case”.
She described the controversy as an aberration and warned against allowing it to undermine the abilities or achievements of the university’s staff of colour.
Arday’s memoir, Great and Unfortunate Things, was published in the United States this week by an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Its UK publication was scheduled for later in August.
His death comes as questions surrounding his academic career were still being investigated. Police have said the death is being treated as unexpected but is not currently considered suspicious, with a report to be prepared for the coroner.
