The family of the former Cambridge academic condemned what they described as years of harassment over plagiarism allegations.
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41-year-old J. Arday was found dead nine days after he resigned from his positions as a professor at the University of Cambridge and a fellow of Jesus College, both institutions having announced investigations into various suspicions.
In a statement released overnight, his family said he had “experienced persistent harassment” since 2023, when he became the youngest Black professor at Cambridge.
According to them, it “was too much for Jason, who was a gentle person and always wanted to see the best in everyone.” Others noted the vulnerability of this man, who was diagnosed with autism.
J. Arday himself claimed to have been the target of a “racially motivated” campaign.
Speaking to journalists in Southwest England on Saturday, A. Burnham urged “not to rush to judgment.”
“This is a tragedy on many levels,” he said. “It is a moment for reflection (…), to think about how things came to this.”
The scandal hit the media headlines last month when some academics and the press accused J. Arday of plagiarizing part of his doctoral thesis and embellishing his life achievements.
These allegations were seized upon by British right-wing newspapers and commentators, who claimed he unfairly exploited diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.
However, Weyman Bennett, one of the organizers of the “Stand Up to Racism” campaign, stated that his death was the result of a “racist witch hunt” by the right-wing media, politicians, and far-right groups.
“He felt he could no longer continue”
In a resignation letter published on August 5, J. Arday said this step was the “only way” to end a “difficult period,” but it should not be “misunderstood as acceptance of the narrative surrounding me.”
According to the Metropolitan Police of London, the married father of two was found lifeless on Friday afternoon in South London.
The police said his death is considered “unexpected” but not suspicious. Although the cause of death is unclear, officials are preparing a case for a coroner’s inquiry, which will officially determine the cause of death.
Simon Baron-Cohen, a professor at the University of Cambridge and director of the Autism Research Centre, told BBC Radio that he spoke with J. Arday as recently as Friday morning.
“He was constantly and relentlessly judged, including ridicule, discrediting absolutely every detail of his life,” said S. Baron-Cohen.
“He struggled to cope with the loss of career and reputation and felt he could no longer continue. He used these words in voice messages,” he said.
Passions flared further after in July, US academic and self-described “race realist” Nathan Cofnas, whose research activities at Cambridge ended in 2024 amid accusations of racism, made statements about J. Arday.
Among them was the claim that part of J. Arday’s doctoral thesis was copied from other works.
The newspapers The Times, The Guardian, and The Telegraph have published investigative articles in recent weeks about J. Arday’s academic work and personal life.
Some of his claimed achievements, including running 30 marathons in 35 days and raising millions for charity, were challenged.
J. Arday, who had autism, said he did not speak until the age of 11 and learned to read and write only at 18, eventually becoming a Cambridge professor at 37.
In an interview with The Times earlier this month, J. Arday admitted to making academic “mistakes,” but said he was unfairly “portrayed as a liar and fantasist.”
He added that some errors in his early academic work arose from autism, as he relied on mimicking material to understand information.
Noting that J. Arday was diagnosed in childhood with disabilities including speech delay and learning differences, S. Baron-Cohen emphasized that the man was “vulnerable” and deserved “protection and support.”
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