Former Cambridge Professor Jason Arday Found Dead in London

Former Cambridge professor Jason Arday was found dead at a south London address on Friday afternoon, authorities confirmed.

The Metropolitan Police stated that a 41-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene and that his death is being treated as unexpected but not suspicious. Arday resigned from his position as professor of sociology of education at the University of Cambridge last week amid allegations of plagiarism and questions about his academic achievements. His family, in a statement issued through his publisher, said he was subjected to a campaign of sustained abuse and misinformation that became too much for him.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham described Arday's death as a tragedy on so many levels and called for a moment for reflection. University of Cambridge Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice expressed deep sadness and offered sympathies to Arday's family. Arday, who became Cambridge's youngest Black professor in 2023, had denied the plagiarism claims. An investigation at Liverpool John Moores University, where he completed his PhD, had cleared him of wrongdoing.

He had told a friend he couldn't go on hours before his death, according to reports. Arday's memoir, "Great and Unfortunate Things," was released this week.