Former University of Cambridge professor Jason Arday was found dead at his London home Friday little more than a week after resigning amid mounting allegations of plagiarism and lying about his biography, central to the extraordinary personal story that helped make him famous. Arday’s memoir, Great and Unfortunate Things, hit bookstores last week.
As reported on Monday’s AM Update, the 41-year-old reportedly found unresponsive at a residence in the Battersea neighborhood of South London. Authorities described his death as unexpected but said it is not suspicious. While no cause of death has been publicly announced, it is believed to have been suicide.
Arday’s Rise
Arday became an international academic celebrity in 2023 when, at 37, he was named Cambridge University’s youngest ever black professor. His rise was powered by an extraordinary and unbelievable alleged life story.
The son of Ghanaian immigrants, Arday said he was diagnosed with autism as a child, that he did not speak until he was almost 12, could not read or write until 18, and, nevertheless, went on to earn a doctorate before becoming a professor at one of the world’s most prestigious universities.
Over the years, Arday claimed he survived a remarkable series of medical and personal challenges, including epilepsy, cancer, a brain tumor, a stroke, and more, while simultaneously becoming one of the world’s most elite endurance athletes and distance runners, not to mention prolific charity fundraiser.
The Fall from Grace
Then, the dam broke. Over the past several weeks, substantial parts of his origin story began to come undone. The controversy initially centered on plagiarism allegations involving Arday’s doctoral dissertation, but questions spread well beyond his academic record to virtually every part of his bio.
The Washington Free Beacon reported last week that several dramatic episodes presented as true in Arday’s newly released memoir bear striking similarities to storylines from movies and television programs he had previously discussed enjoying. Those disputed accounts reportedly included stories surrounding his childhood disabilities and an alleged violent attack Arday said left him with epilepsy, but in which he became the hero, forgiving his attackers and becoming godfather to one of their children.
Cambridge initially defended Arday, saying the plagiarism allegations were for his doctoral university to handle. But the university opened an investigation earlier this month after receiving what it described as additional information. Arday resigned that same day without admitting wrongdoing.
“I no longer wish to feel as though I am living under a constant spotlight, where every aspect of my life is subject to public examination and judgment,” he wrote in an open resignation letter.
In a statement released through Simon & Schuster UK following his death, his family accused critics of subjecting Arday to what they called a years-long “campaign of sustained abuse” arguing a “campaign of misinformation” had ultimately become too much for him.
Cambridge University’s vice chancellor said the school is now focused on supporting its community following Arday’s death; others argued his passing should force scrutiny not just of the accusations against him but of Cambridge’s decision to elevate him in the first place, making him a target.
Megyn’s Take
Megyn has been covering the ongoing allegations against Arday for weeks now, and she said she was “horrified” by the news of his death. On Monday’s Megyn Kelly Show, took a closer look at how he was enabled by the institutions and ideology that built him. Watch:
You can check out Megyn’s full analysis by tuning in to episode 1,380 on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. And don’t forget that you can catch The Megyn Kelly Show live on SiriusXM’s The Megyn Kelly Channel (channel 111) weekdays from 12pm to 2pm ET.