Was Jason Arday just the perfect victim?

[KellyK2026]

Surely I can’t be the only one that feels like Jason Arday was a victim, right? Yesterday he was found dead and I feel bad for him. Here’s the reasons why I think he was a victim:

1. It is absolutely insane to me that Cambridge University would appoint him as a Professor when he was in the early stages of his career. It’s practically unheard of. At any university you typically have to earn your dues (which means working as an academic for many years) OR do something truly special, like a Nobel Prize nomination, to be promoted to Professor. I cannot imagine the amount of pressure he had been under to prove himself and likely had a tremendous amount of imposter syndrome. Cambridge let him down.
2. I’ve worked in academia for many years, and let me tell you, academics are under a tremendous amount of pressure to publish. This pressure can compromise quality. Arday isn’t the first nor will he be the last to publish questionable papers.
3. As I’ve worked in academia for years, I’ve experienced academics make racist and sexist remarks first hand. One white academic I worked with got drunk at a work get together and started a rant about how Black people shouldn't be president (this was when Obama was in power), that Obama was a Muslim and interracial relationships were ‘disgusting’. What made this somewhat even worse was that this particular academic wrote about racism in the public sphere, so he profited from writing about Black struggles while harbouring these personal views. There was no repercussions for him, despite presenting himself as something other than what he was.
4. I’ve also been sexually assaulted at a conference by a male academic. No repercussions for him either and he no doubt pretends to be a feminist in his work.
5. I don’t think it’s in doubt that Arday had autism. Now I don’t know how it affected him personally, but, again, that must’ve been extremely difficult and perhaps even blurred what is and isn’t acceptable in higher education.
6. He was also cleared of plagiarism but, again, so many academics have plagiarised ideas and papers, but they haven’t been strung up like Arday has been.

So, long story short, I feel like Cambridge let him down. And I feel like he was targeted because there’s plenty of other examples but they never get called out and nobody cares. It was a witch hunt. But I’d be interested to hear what others have to say on this matter.

Not really as it’s a Thread about why the media has focused on him instead of other events and individuals.

My partner is Autistic, now teaching others about it (including the Oliver McGowan training) having only been diagnosed at 54 but obviously living with it forever.

Good point! 👏🏼

Okay, another ‘what-ism’. I suggest you set up your own Thread talking about what ifs.

He claimed to run 600 miles over what 6 days.

He said he was autistic

He said he was mute until 11

He said he couldn’t read or write until 18

He said he was on Seven Up documentary

Just NO ONE thought there was something odd going on here’s and worse than this he was given the role of Professor at one of the most prestigious universities in the world.

You keep saying what the thread is about. You do this when people ask questions or make points you disagree with.
The media focused on him because it was quite a compelling story.

Because he is married to Katie Price. Now try for someone who’s life previously was entirely out of the public eye.

That's why this is such a compelling story. How on earth did he get so far?

Have you heard of something called ‘Sarcasm’?
It’s quite common in the circles I run in .

Cos he can run 600 miles in 6 days, obv.

Safeguarding.

The university has a responsibility to itself to deal with issues that may create problems for itself and safeguard itself.

The university has a responsibility to safeguard anyone who it decides to employ if they are vulnerable.

However you cut this, whether he was vulnerable or a liability due to his behaviour - it's doesn't matter which - the university did not do due diligence in either scenario.

There is nothing further to add to this point which is constructive or worth saying. It's really not appropriate nor helpful to discuss which one on this forum tbh.

Great argument, I'm totally convinced.

how are they vile? how are we behaving now? how is him taking his life not enough?
such hyperbole

Probably for the same reason you have.

Yet you chose to not answer my question.

It was you that brought up the topic of "genocide", yet when I asked you which "genocide" you might be referring to, all of a sudden you avoid the topic.

Why is that?

If you genuinely felt that there was an ongoing "genocide" that this was detracting from then why would you not mention whatever "genocide" it was that was so important to you?

No and I absolutely agree it’s very strange that Cambridge didn’t question any of it

I agree that Cofas has a lot to answer for but so do those in the media that blew up a story that should have been dealt with in house by Cambridge and was instead, splashed all over the national media. Because, really, do the general public care about academic plagiarism? Has it even been proved in this case? As for the seemingly outrageous claims made in his memoir, surely someone should have recognised them for what they were, a mind reeling out of control? I think Cambridge failed in their duty of care to an employee before and after his resignation but I also think his publishers and those journalists who feasted on this vulnerable man's humiliation share the blame for his death.

😂 good one!
Please note, @KellyK2026, I'm laughing at Nifty"s joke, I am not laughing at Jason Arday.

Did that guy also claim to have run several marathons with a broken leg, or to have appeared in a documentary which was actually filmed years before his birth?

Arday sadly, was a fantasist at best and a conman at worst. It’s very sad that scrutiny of his lies pushed him to this.

It's very VERY important to realise that his initial accuser brands himself as a "race realist" who doesn't believe that black people are as intelligent as white people. In other words, a dirty racist shit bag. He bears all the responsibility for this and, if it's found that he's been lying, he should be locked up. Fuck that scummy little weasel.

In which case you should be better at both recognising it and using it. It's only the lowest form of wit when done as badly as this.

That comment isn't sarcastic. It's attempting to draw a parallel between Arday and Epstein. Arday did wrong for sure but to pretend this situation is equivalent to Epstein isn't sarcasm, it's just fucked up.

Not just strange, a complete lack of any standards whatsoever.

I brought it up because another commenter said it and I agreed. It’s clear what you’re after and you’re not going to get it from me.

Diversity Equity/Equality and Inclusion vs Equity/Equality Diversity and Inclusion.
Does it really matter which way round the letters go its the exact same bs whichever way round you put it

He was a liar and a fantasist and knowingly rode the gravy train. Of course it’s sad he’s died, but he does hold culpability for all the decisions he made.