Death of British-Ghanaian Professor Jason Arday sparks UK racism debate

Professor Arday, who was 41, resigned earlier this month from his position as Professor of Sociology of Education at the University of Cambridge following these allegations. He was found unresponsive at an address in Battersea, south London, on August 15, 2026. Police are treating his death as unexpected but not suspicious.

His family stated they were "in shock" and that "the campaign of misinformation was too much for Jason." Professor Arday had denied the plagiarism allegations, acknowledging some errors in his work, and described the situation as leading to "an unrelenting level of public scrutiny and personal attack." Over 90,000 people have signed a petition calling for a public inquiry into the media treatment of him, and tens of thousands attended a vigil in London.

In March 2023, Professor Arday became the youngest Black professor at the University of Cambridge.