The man who made history as the University of Cambridge’s youngest black professor resigned from his post on Wednesday after weeks of mounting accusations of plagiarism and fabrications in his biography.
Jason Arday joined Cambridge in 2023 at the age of 37 and immediately became one of the most high-profile academics in the U.K. largely due to his extraordinary life story that garnered global media attention.
Arday says he is autistic and epileptic and that he was nonverbal until age 11 and could not read or write until he was 18. He claims to have accomplished the remarkable feat of running 30 marathons in 35 days to raise millions of British pounds for charity, in addition to being a former pro soccer and snooker player.
Questions about the veracity of his bio have been raised over the years to little effect, as those who have attempted to verify or clarify Arday’s background have largely been met with racism accusations. However, with Simon & Schuster set to publish Arday’s memoir next week, the latest round of skepticism surrounding his academic integrity and life have gained traction.
The Allegations
Nathan Cofnas, a postdoctoral researcher at Ghent University in Belgium, published a Substack article last month detailing several examples of apparent plagiarism in Arday’s doctoral dissertation. An analysis found more than 100 passages seemed to be similar to or lifted from the thesis of a Brunel University student named Paula Zwozdiak-Myers.
Arday is also under fire for false claims about his resume. He wrote on his official biography page for Cambridge that he is a visiting professor at Ohio State University’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion. The problem? The school’s DEI office closed last year and administrators reportedly said they have no record of his employment.
Arday also claims he is a visiting professor at the University of Glasgow’s School of Education, but the school told The New York Post he hasn’t held that position since leaving for Cambridge in 2023. Additionally, he listed working at Durham University in the Department of Sociology as an honorary professor even though he does not appear to hold a formal position there.
The Resignation
In a post on the progressive Good Law Project, Arday said his resignation from Cambridge was “simply the decision of someone who has reached the limits of what any person should reasonably be expected to endure” and insisted the sudden move should not “be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me.”
His resignation as a professor of sociology takes effect immediately, and the news comes on the heels of Cambridge launching an investigation into the plagiarism and fabulism allegations.
“[We have] begun an investigation following new information about Professor Arday’s academic qualifications and honorary appointments,” the university confirmed in a statement Wednesday. “Separately, there remains a number of ongoing complaints regarding academic misconduct, which are being handled in line with our Misconduct in Research policy.”
It is a sharp reversal for the school, which had ardently defended Arday and claimed he was a victim of a “vile campaign to undermine his credibility.”
The Reaction
Megyn has been on this increasingly stunning story since it first started gaining traction late last month. Keep scrolling for complete coverage and analysis.
Arday Quits as Alleged Lies and Plagiarism Are Exposed
[August 6] Megyn and Glenn Greenwald react to Arday resigning after mounting plagiarism accusations and lies piling up, him continuing to play the victim and lean on claims of racism, and more.
Plagiarism Scandal Explodes as Professor Claims Racism
[August 4] Megyn and Taibbi analyze the shocking new developments in the plagiarism scandal, the left’s attempts to blame the controversy on racism as more questions of lies in Arday’s past emerge, and more.
Plagiarism Scandal Rocks Cambridge
[July 29] Megyn, Rich Lowry, and Charles C.W. Cooke discuss the plagiarism scandal surrounding a Cambridge professor, attempts to dismiss the allegations by the left as racism, the wild biographical details emerging about his past statements, and more.
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