Former Cambridge professor Jason Arday found dead aged 41
Mr Arday is understood to have been found "unresponsive" at an address in Battersea on Friday afternoon
Former Cambridge professor Jason Arday has been found dead at his south London home.
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Mr Arday was found "unresponsive" at an address in Battersea on Friday afternoon.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said that officers were called by the London Ambulance Service to the property at 3.12pm on Friday.
The Met Police statement read: “Sadly, 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.”
Mr Arday resigned as a professor of sociology of education at the elite University of Cambridge on August 5.
This followed several press reports of plagiarism against him.
He was the university's youngest-ever black professor.
His death comes after dozens of academics at the prestigious institution signed a letter calling for an independent inquiry into the processes around his appointment
The University of Cambridge announced on Thursday it would run an independent review of “all relevant processes” alongside an investigation into how a professor who resigned amid a plagiarism row was appointed by its Faculty of Education.
A statement issued by his publisher, Simon & Schuster UK, saw his family lay bare the "sustained abuse" they say he had suffered since being appointed to Cambridge in 2023.
The late academic's family paid tribute to him as an “amazing” and “gentle man”.
The statement said: “Jason was subjected to a campaign of sustained abuse for the 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.”
After his death, Cambridge Vice-Chancellor Professor 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.”
A spokesperson for Durham University said: “We are shocked and terribly sad to learn of the death of Jason Arday. Jason was a member of Durham University’s Sociology Department between 2019 and 2022.
"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 today.”
A Glasgow University spokesperson said: “We are deeply shocked and saddened by the death of our former colleague Professor Jason Arday.
"Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with his friends and family at this desperately sad time.”
Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said: "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.
"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."
Deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell MP wrote on X: "I’m deeply shocked & saddened to hear about the death of Jason Arday.
"My heartfelt condolences are with his friends and family at this very sad time. I urge people to give them privacy through this incredibly difficult period & to remember there are real people with loved ones involved."
Shadow housing secretary James Cleverly wrote: "The death of Jason Arday is tragic, and makes me so angry. Even the most casual observer could see he was a vulnerable fantasist.
"A number of people at a number of academic institutions have serious questions to answer. They put him into positions he was clearly not qualified for so they could have a black wunderkind to show off, they pushed him into the spotlight for their own benefit.
"His exposure was inevitable, a case of when, not if. His whole world fell apart."
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