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Death in Battersea
Jason Arday, the former Cambridge professor and Jesus College fellow, was found dead at an address in south London’s Battersea on Friday afternoon, with the Metropolitan Police saying the death was being treated as "unexpected" but not suspicious.
“Arday, 41, was found dead Friday”
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham called for "reflection" after Arday’s death, telling broadcasters during a visit to Cornwall that "It's not a moment for any rushing to judgement" and urging people to reflect on "how things came to this."
Arday, who was 41, had resigned nine days earlier as a Cambridge University professor and Jesus College fellow after both institutions announced probes into allegations, and his family said he had been "subjected to a campaign of sustained abuse" ever since he became Cambridge's youngest black professor in 2023.
The BBC reported that Arday was pronounced dead after emergency services were called to an address in Battersea, south London, and that police said officers were preparing a file for the coroner.
In Cambridge on Saturday, several people left flowers and a card bearing Arday's name on university gates in the city center, while remembrance vigils were planned in London on Sunday and Monday evenings.
Racist witch hunt claims
Weyman Bennett, co-convenor of the Stand Up to Racism campaign group, said Arday’s death "was the result of a racist witch hunt" by right-wing media, politicians and the far right.
The Independent said a fundraising page set up on Saturday afternoon by Windrush activist Sir Patrick Vernon had collected more than £5,000 to assist Arday’s family with funeral costs, and it quoted Vernon writing on GoFundMe that he was "deeply concerned about the nature and intensity of the attacks directed towards him."
The BBC reported that Cambridge vice-chancellor Prof Deborah Prentice led tributes, saying the faculty was "desperately saddened" and adding that her "heartfelt sympathies" went to Arday’s family and friends.
Simon Baron-Cohen, director of the Autism Research Centre, told BBC radio that Arday was being subjected to "relentless scrutiny, including ridicule, discrediting absolutely every detail of his life," and said Arday felt he "couldn't go on."
The People report also quoted Baron-Cohen recalling that Arday’s last voice note was that he "couldn't go on," and it said Arday’s friend Kehinde Andrews described him as "very upset" and feeling there was "no way out."
Investigations and fallout
Cambridge said it would launch an immediate investigation into the circumstances around Arday’s employment, and the BBC reported that Education Secretary Lucy Powell urged people to "remember there are real people with loved ones involved."
“remember there are real people with loved ones involved”
The Independent said a vigil for Arday planned by Stand Up To Racism would take place on the steps of the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, central London, at 6pm on Monday, with Weyman Bennett repeating that Arday’s death was "the result of a racist witch hunt."
The BBC reported that Arday’s family said a "campaign of misinformation" had been "too much for Jason," while it also noted that police were preparing a file for the coroner to formally determine the cause of death at an inquest.
In a statement issued through his publisher Simon & Schuster UK, Arday’s family said they were "in shock to have lost this amazing father, partner, brother, uncle and son," and the BBC said Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan posted on X that Arday faced "an unacceptable public hounding and campaign of abuse."
The Le Monde report added that a crowdfunding page created by Patrick Vernon had raised more than £11,000 (€13,000) by late Saturday to support Arday’s family, as the scandal that began with plagiarism accusations continued to be discussed alongside claims of harassment and racism.
