Ex-Cambridge professor found dead after plagiarism scandal led to abrupt resignation

Jason Arday, the ex-Cambridge professor who sparked an international controversy over plagiarism allegations, was found dead Friday, according to multiple reports.

BBC News reported that a man at a south London address was found "unresponsive" and that, according to the Metropolitan Police, "a 41-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene and his next of kin have been informed."

"At this time, his death is being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious," Met Police said in a statement to BBC News.

"We are desperately saddened to hear this tragic news," Cambridge University Vice Chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice told Fox News Digital. "Our heartfelt sympathies go to Jason Arday's family and friends at this incredibly difficult time."

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The Metropolitan Police did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment.

Last week, Arday resigned as a sociology professor at Cambridge University after the university announced an investigation into his academic qualifications and honorary appointments amid plagiarism accusations, with one accuser telling Fox News Digital Arday had been hired to be the "face of DEI."

This week also marked the release of his memoir, "Great and Unfortunate Things," which had also come under scrutiny due to some of the questionable claims Arday had made about his background. Publisher Simon & Schuster had stood by releasing the book in statements to the media.

Accusations against Arday resurfaced last month from former Cambridge philosophy researcher Nathan Cofnas, who published a Substack article alleging that Arday was a known "plagiarist and fabulist" for more than a year, and much of his personal biography was questionable.

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Cofnas first expressed doubt about Arday's background after the educator said he had been nonverbal until age 11 and practically illiterate until 18, while still being able to get a Ph.D. in 2015 and eventually becoming the youngest Black professor at Cambridge University in 2023.

Using the plagiarism detection program Copyleaks, Cofnas said he found several examples of Arday directly lifting materials from a 2009 dissertation without proper citation and sometimes even retaining copy editing mistakes. Other earlier papers written by Arday were also issued corrections to add more citations, which Cofnas characterized as an admission of plagiarism.

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Arday's appointment in 2023 received massive media attention, much of it celebrating the hiring as a landmark moment.

In addition to the plagiarism allegations, Arday faced further scrutiny about his biography. Among his boldest claims was that he once ran 30 marathons in 35 days to raise money for charity, an astonishing long-distance feat for even standout runners.

After initially rushing to Arday's defense, Cambridge ultimately launched an investigation into the professor.

"The University of Cambridge has begun an investigation following new information about Professor Arday’s academic qualifications and honorary appointments. In order to ensure a fair process, we will not comment further until this has concluded," the statement said.

Shortly after the statement was released, Arday released his own statement through the Good Law Project announcing he was resigning with "immediate effect," noting "public scrutiny" as a factor.

"Sadly, the years since my appointment have also been marked by an unrelenting level of public scrutiny and personal attack. While criticism is an inevitable part of academic life, what I have experienced has gone far beyond scholarly disagreement. The relentless accusations, speculation and public commentary have taken a profound toll on me and on those I love," Arday wrote.

"I have tried to continue because I believe deeply in the values of higher education, in rigorous scholarship, and in the transformative power of universities. I have tried because of my students, my colleagues and the countless people who have written to tell me that my journey gave them hope. But there comes a point when the personal cost becomes too great."

Fox News' Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report.