Trending 
Jason Arday, the former University of Cambridge professor whose career became the subject of a plagiarism controversy, has died at 41.
Emergency services found a man “unresponsive” at an address in Battersea, south London, on Friday afternoon. The Metropolitan Police said the death was being treated as unexpected but was “not believed to be suspicious”.
Arday’s family confirmed his death in a statement, saying they were “in shock to have lost this amazing father, partner, brother, uncle and son”. They said the public scrutiny surrounding him had taken a heavy toll, adding: “The campaign of misinformation was too much for Jason, who was a gentleman and who always wanted to see the best in everyone.”
The academic resigned from his role as professor of sociology of education at Cambridge last week following allegations of plagiarism and questions over aspects of his academic record. Arday denied plagiarism but acknowledged mistakes in some of his earlier work.
Speaking about the controversy, he said the scrutiny had resulted in “an unrelenting level of public scrutiny and personal attack”. He told The Times newspaper: “We’re talking about academia here. I didn’t murder somebody. I think the cruelty that I’ve experienced and the positioning of me as this kind of liar and fantasist is totally unacceptable.”
Cambridge University vice-chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice said the institution was “desperately saddened” by the news.
“Our heartfelt sympathies go to Jason Arday’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time,” she said.
Education Secretary Lucy Powell also described herself as “deeply shocked and saddened”, calling for people to remember that “there are real people with loved ones involved”.
Arday became Cambridge’s youngest Black professor in 2023 at the age of 37, an appointment celebrated as a significant moment in British academia. Only around one per cent of professors at UK universities are Black.
His resignation came after Cambridge announced an independent review into his appointment. The university had previously said Liverpool John Moores University, which awarded him his PhD, and relevant journals had reviewed plagiarism claims relating to his thesis and some publications.
Liverpool John Moores University concluded that Arday had not plagiarised his work.
Arday said some errors in his early academic writing were linked to his autism and the way he processed information, explaining that he sometimes relied on mimicry while learning.
Following his death, former colleagues and friends described him as a kind and determined academic who had overcome significant challenges. Professor Kehinde Andrews, a friend of Arday, said he had been deeply affected after resigning from Cambridge.
“He was very upset. He felt that there was no way out,” Andrews said, adding that the situation should prompt wider reflection on the experiences of Black academics in universities.
Arday’s journey from struggling with speech and literacy as a child to becoming a leading academic was documented in his memoir, *Great And Unfortunate Things*, which was scheduled for publication later this month.
