Tributes paid to Jason Arday after ex-Cambridge professor found dead

Tributes have poured in for Jason Arday, a former professor of sociology of education at Cambridge University, who was found dead at his London home on Friday. The 41-year-old academic had resigned from his position just last week following allegations of plagiarism and questions surrounding his professional achievements, claims he had denied.

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We are in shock to have lost this amazing father, partner, brother, uncle and son. We believe a campaign of misinformation has been too much for him.

His publisher, Simon & Schuster UK, released a statement from Arday's family expressing their profound shock and grief over the loss of their "amazing father, partner, brother, uncle and son." The family suggested that a "campaign of misinformation" had taken a severe toll on him.

University of Cambridge vice-chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice led the tributes, stating the faculty was "desperately saddened" by the news and extended heartfelt sympathies to Arday's family and friends. Education Secretary Lucy Powell shared her shock and sadness, urging the public to remember the human impact of such events. Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan was among those who highlighted the unrelenting media scrutiny Arday faced, describing it as "an unacceptable public hounding and campaign of abuse."

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Our heartfelt sympathies go to Jason Arday's family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.

Professor Simon Baron-Cohen of Cambridge's Autism Research Centre, who spoke to Arday on the morning of his death, recounted the academic's feeling of being unable to leave his house due to what he described as a three-year "campaign against him." Baron-Cohen suggested Arday felt "they've destroyed my life," likely referring to media pressure. Professor Kehinde Andrews, a friend and Professor of Black Studies, described Arday as "very down" and "upset" after his resignation, feeling there was "no way out" and that he had lost significant weight. Andrews remarked that the situation highlighted the harsh realities faced by Black academics in academia.

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His death was a tragedy, but once again it should be a wake up call for all of us.

Other figures, including Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Shadow Communities Secretary Sir James Cleverly, expressed anger and concern over the intense media scrutiny. Cleverly stated that "a number of people at a number of academic institutions have serious questions to answer" regarding the circumstances surrounding Arday's death, which he called a "tragedy."

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What he was saying to me was 'they've destroyed my life' - it's not clear who they were but I think he was referring to the media. The personal attacks on him have been so immense.