Former Cambridge University professor Jason Arday was found dead in London on Friday, just days after resigning due to issues surrounding his career.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson told CNN that a 41-year-old man was found unresponsive in Battersea, south London, and was later pronounced dead at the scene. The force did not release Arday’s name, but British media widely reported that he was the man found dead in Battersea.
Until last month, sociologist Ardey was celebrated as the youngest black professor in Cambridge University’s history, but questions began swirling in the media over allegations of plagiarism in his academic papers and claims about his campaigning and fundraising achievements.
The university’s vice president, Deborah Prentice, said in a statement Friday that the university was “deeply saddened to hear this tragic news.”
“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Jason Arday at this incredibly difficult time,” she added in a statement posted to X.
When Ardey resigned in early August, he defended himself by saying his decision to resign “should not be interpreted as a loss of faith in scholarship.”
“Also, it should not be misconstrued as an acceptance of the narrative surrounding me,” he said. “It’s just a person’s decision to reach the limits of what a person could reasonably be expected to endure.”
“It’s a tragedy for him and those who loved him.”
News of his death on Friday sent shockwaves online, with many criticizing some of the coverage that led to or followed his resignation.
Journalist Louis Goodall said in X: “Significant parts of the British media should be asking themselves serious questions about whether the amount of coverage they gave this man was proportionate to its intent.”
The Good Law Project, a campaign group that has supported Mr Ardey since the allegations first emerged, said his death was “a tragedy for him and those who loved him”.
Joe Maugham, the group’s executive director, said in a statement that those around Mr. Ardey had “warned the media that this was dangerous.”
“I don’t understand what the public interest was in continuing to pursue him after he resigned his professorship, nor do I understand what risk assessment the news organization made,” he added.
Lucy Powell, UK Secretary of State for Education, said she was “shocked and saddened” to hear of Ms Ardey’s death. “Our deepest sympathies go out to his friends and family at this very sad time. We ask that you please maintain privacy during this incredibly difficult time (and) remember that there are real people whose loved ones are involved.”
Mr Cambridge initially supported Mr Ardey when questions about his qualifications were raised publicly in the British press and by a former philosophy researcher who left the university after criticizing its diversity, equity and inclusion programme.
The university said at the time that the plagiarism allegations had been investigated by Liverpool John Moores University, which awarded Mr Ardey his doctorate.
It then said in a statement that it had launched an investigation “in response to new information regarding Professor Ardey’s qualifications and honorary appointment.”
The university announced earlier this week that Durham University and the University of Glasgow were also investigating the circumstances surrounding Mr Ardey’s academic post at the university.
