Jason Arday, the former University of Cambridge professor who resigned last week amid accusations of plagiarism and disputed claims about his personal achievements, was found dead on Friday afternoon at an address in south London. He was 41.

The Metropolitan Police said officers were called by the London Ambulance Service following a report of a man found unresponsive inside a property in the Battersea neighbourhood. A 41-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene, and his next of kin were informed, police said. At this time his death is being treated as unexpected but is not believed to be suspicious, according to police. The case is being investigated by officers from the Met's Central South Command Unit.

Cambridge University confirmed the death, with Vice-Chancellor Deborah Prentice saying, "We are desperately saddened to hear this tragic news," and expressing "heartfelt sympathies" to Arday's family and friends. Education Secretary Lucy Powell said she was "deeply shocked and saddened" and urged people to give his family privacy.

Arday had resigned on August 5 from his post as professor of sociology of education and as a fellow of Jesus College, shortly after Cambridge announced probes into various accusations against him. The allegations included claims that he plagiarised parts of his doctoral thesis, first made public in July by Nathan Cofan, a former Cambridge researcher who described himself as a "race realist." The Times of London published an analysis of Arday's thesis highlighting passages that were "identical or near-identical" to an earlier paper by another researcher. British media also questioned a number of Arday's personal claims, including that he ran 30 marathons in 35 days and raised 5.5 million pounds for charity.

Arday, who had said he was diagnosed with autism in childhood and unable to speak until age 11, became the youngest Black professor in Cambridge's history when he was appointed in 2023. His appointment had been hailed by the university, but the recent scandal was picked up by British right-wing newspapers and commentators who suggested he had benefited from diversity, equality, and inclusion policies.

In his resignation letter, Arday said quitting was "the only way to end a difficult period," but insisted the decision should not be "mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me." He previously admitted making academic mistakes but rejected being portrayed as a liar or fraud, alleging the campaign against him was "racially motivated."

Family statement and reaction

Arday's family blamed a "campaign of harassment" following the allegations, saying in a statement released through his publisher Simon & Schuster: "The campaign of misinformation was too much for Jason, who was a gentle man and who always wanted to see the best in everyone."

A vigil organised by Stand Up to Racism in Trafalgar Square drew more than 30,000 attendees, according to organisers. At the vigil, MP Diane Shaw said Arday had been subject to a "vicious" and "bitter" campaign, while Lord Woolley described it as a "public execution" and a "lynching." Simon Ward-Allen, director of Cambridge's Autism Research Centre, had separately spoken of "safeguarding issues" over the media focus on Arday's vulnerabilities.

An inquest into his death was scheduled to open on Wednesday at London's Inner South Coroner's Court. His family later said they were "deeply moved by the extraordinary support" they received after a fundraiser launched in his memory raised more than £224,000. Sir Patrick Vernon, who set up the GoFundMe page, said the funds would go towards supporting the family and meeting funeral costs.

Debate over academic integrity and media coverage

Arday's death has reignited a debate in the United Kingdom about university hiring practices and media scrutiny. James Cleverly, a Black former Conservative Cabinet minister and Member of Parliament, said universities "failed to do the proper due diligence," adding that Arday was "teed up" by institutions that wanted "a wunderkind." and a "poster child" for diversity.

Patrick Vernon, who was recently knighted for his work on racial equality, argued that coverage of Arday's story was disproportionate to his standing and "reflecting a higher standard for people of color." "He's not the prime minister," Vernon said, "but he was treated at the same standard, which is outrageous."

A group of Cambridge academics wrote to Vice-Chancellor Prentice slamming Arday's appointment, while others wrote joint letters in support of him. Chancellor Chris Georgie told the BBC that it is possible to "believe in academic integrity" and ensure "rigorous investigation of plagiarism allegations" while refusing to join what he called a "racist feeding frenzy." Cambridge had initially stood by Arday but later opened an investigation after receiving "new information" about his qualifications. Prentice later announced an "independent review of all university processes" related to the appointment.

An open letter signed by more than 120,000 people called on the government to commission a public inquiry into media coverage. Steven Bartlett, a communications professor, counted that the mainstream press had published 189 stories about Arday in 22 days, almost two-thirds of them after his resignation.

Other columnists defended the coverage. Charles Moore wrote that if Cambridge had investigated concerns about Arday in 2023, he would not have suffered the shame, while Sarah Ditum argued that Arday was a legitimate news story because his actions hurt the academics he plagiarised and public trust. Nathan Cofanas was suspended from his post at Ghent University, which said his death "should prompt reflection" and announced a preliminary disciplinary investigation.

Legacy and memoir

Arday, who was photographed carrying rise and was back to international attention when he was renowned at Cambridge in 2023, published memoir "Great and Unfortunate Things" in the US a week before his death, with the UK edition following as his family said it would have perfected. He was a father, son, and friend; in a family statement, they said they were "deeply moved by the extraordinary support" and that he devoted his life to advancing education, widening participation, tackling race, and championing autism.