Jason Arday, a former Cambridge University professor, was found dead at his home after enduring intense pressure amid allegations of academic plagiarism.
Foreign news agencies reported that Professor Jason Arday, aged 41, the youngest black professor in Cambridge University's history, was found dead at his home in Battersea, London, on Friday, 14 Aug 2026 GMT+7, shortly after submitting his resignation from the university the previous week.
Arday faced intense scrutiny from both the media and the public after being suspected of academic plagiarism and questions raised about his background and previous work. Although he denied intentional plagiarism, he acknowledged errors in his early academic work, leading Cambridge University to initiate an internal fact-finding investigation, prompting his resignation in early August.
London Metropolitan Police were alerted and found Arday unresponsive on Friday afternoon. Initial reports indicated an unexpected death with no signs suggesting robbery or homicide by another party.
Arday's family stated in a later announcement that he was a gentle person but had endured "continuous harassment and the spread of false information" for more than three years since joining Cambridge, severely affecting his mental health.
Meanwhile, close colleague Professor Simon Baron-Cohen revealed that Arday was unable to cope with the stress. In the last voice message Arday sent before his death, he said, “He could no longer endure it.”
Arday's death has ignited widespread debate in the United Kingdom. Political leaders and academics, including Prime Minister Andy Burnham, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, and teaching organizations, have stated that the media and far-right personal attacks were excessively harsh.
Additionally, the issue of racial discrimination has been raised, as Arday was treated harshly and received prominent media coverage, unlike other professors involved in scandals.
Follow international news:https://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreign
Source:cnn