Heartbroken family of Jason Arday speak out on 'abuse' as Cambridge professor found dead at home
Jason Arday's devastated family have issued a statement in wake of the former University of Cambridge professor's tragic death.
Reports emerged on Friday (14 August) that the respected academic had been found 'unresponsive' at an address in Battersea, south London. He was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
The 41-year-old's loved ones have since spoken out about the 'campaign of sustained abuse' he endured, saying: "The campaign of misinformation was too much for Jason."
The Metropolitan Police said that Arday's death is being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious.
Advert
Arday's loved ones described him as a 'gentle man' and said they were 'in shock' in wake of his sudden passing.
In a statement issued by his publisher Simon & Schuster UK, his family 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."
Education Secretary Lucy Powell issued a short statement in regards to Arday's death, urging people to 'remember there are real people with loved ones involved'.
In a post on X, she wrote: "I’m deeply shocked and 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."
University of Cambridge vice-chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice also paid tribute to Arday, saying: "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 the Metropolitan Police said: "Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at 3.12pm on Friday, 14 August following a report that a man had been found unresponsive inside a property on Daley Thompson Way, SW8. 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."
Why Jason Arday resigned from the University of Cambridge
A report by The Telegraph, published on July 24, claimed that over 100 pages of Mr Arday's PhD dissertation was similar to a thesis by Paula Zwozdiak-Myers, a student at Brunel University in London, which was published six years earlier.
In response, Cambridge said they had forwarded the complaints to Liverpool John Moores University, where Arday completed the PhD, but they said it had not been plagiarised after reviewing the work.
However, The Guardian reported that other academics had told them there was legitimacy to the plagiarism claims.
Mr Arday denied the accusations, saying: “To clarify, there have been multiple thorough investigations across several institutions as a result of the allegations, and immense scrutiny, including with an academic misconduct panel who concluded that there was no plagiarism or academic misconduct.”
He went on to resign last Wednesday, August 5, but stressed that his resignation was not an indication that he was admitting guilt.
In a statement shared by The Good Law Project, Arday said: “It is with profound sadness that I write to resign, with immediate effect, from my position at the University of Cambridge and Jesus College.
“When I accepted the extraordinary honour of becoming professor of sociology at Cambridge, it was, without question, the greatest professional privilege of my life.
"This decision should not be interpreted as a loss of faith in scholarship or in the values that first brought me to Cambridge. Nor should it be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me.
"It is simply the decision of someone who has reached the limits of what any person should reasonably be expected to endure."
In a statement, a spokesperson for the University of Cambridge said previously: “We take allegations of academic misconduct incredibly seriously.
“It is university procedure that investigations are carried out by the institution at which the research was undertaken.
"This is standard practice in the sector because that institution has access to the information to ensure a full and fair investigation.”
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123 or contact Harmless by visiting their website https://harmless.org.uk.
Olivia Burke