Jason Arday, the University of Cambridge professor who resigned nine days ago amid a plagiarism investigation, was found dead in his London home, authorities confirmed. An ambulance was called after Arday was found unresponsive, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a statement from officials. Police said the death is being treated as unexpected but is not believed to be suspicious, The Telegraph reported.
Investigation and Resignation
The news comes just nine days after Cambridge announced it had launched an investigation into Arday. In a statement, the university said it had begun an inquiry following new information about Arday’s academic qualifications and honorary appointments. Cambridge declined to comment further to ensure a fair process.
The university had initially been reluctant to open an investigation, calling Arday “the victim of a vile campaign to undermine his credibility, which must stop.” However, the tone shifted when reports emerged that Arday had filed a harassment claim against a journalist investigating his work. The day Cambridge announced its investigation, Arday resigned.
In his resignation statement, Arday said he no longer wished to feel as though he was living under a constant spotlight where every aspect of his life was subject to public examination and judgment.
Memoir and Disputed Claims
The scandal broke just days before his memoir, Great and Unfortunate Things, was set to be published. The book, which was still released on Tuesday, focuses on his life with autism and other disabilities. It also makes several claims that journalists and academics have questioned, including whether Arday truly ran thirty marathons in thirty-five days and whether he raised 5.5 million British pounds for charity.
Arday did not directly respond to the attacks on his book but attributed mistakes in his early work to his autism and a lack of supervision from professors. He wrote that while criticism is an inevitable part of academic life, what he experienced went far beyond scholarly disagreement. He described relentless accusations, speculation, and public commentary that took a profound toll on him and those he loved.
The day before the book’s release, Arday canceled his book tour events. He was found dead just four days later.
Academic Reactions
The Guardian reported that academics became critical of Arday. One academic, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “I think it’s plagiarism and it’s obvious.” Another suggested Arday’s fallout could send shockwaves through academia and set the study of race in Britain back twenty years.
Arday, who said he learned to read and write at eighteen, went on to earn his Ph.D. and joined the faculty at Cambridge. His death leaves many questions unanswered about the investigation and the impact of the allegations on his life.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/professor-recently-outed-for-fraudulent-biography-found-dead