Jason Arday has withdrawn from multiple public appearances in the weeks following his departure from Cambridge University. The Royal Geographical Society confirmed that his scheduled fireside chat in London on 2 September has been cancelled at his request. Additionally, his name has been removed from the websites of two other events: an appearance at Topping & Company bookshop in Edinburgh on 18 September and the Arizona Women’s Board Authors’ Luncheon on 24 October. He remains listed for the Stroud Book Festival in Gloucestershire in November.
Arday, who became Cambridge’s youngest black professor in 2023, resigned from his position earlier this week amid scrutiny regarding his academic work and biographical details. He has also stepped down from his role as publication director and trustee of the British Sociological Association, according to BBC News. The organization stated it would update its website to reflect this change. In a statement, Arday acknowledged errors in his earlier work but denied being untruthful, noting that the recent controversy has subjected him to intense public examination and personal criticism.
The controversy has raised questions about various roles Arday held across multiple institutions. The NHS Race and Health Observatory, which lists him as part of its academic reference advisory group, continues to cite his outdated Cambridge affiliation. When contacted by the BBC, Advance HE declined to confirm whether Arday remains a senior fellow, citing data protection considerations. Roles he held with ITV’s Cultural Advisory Council and the Welsh Government’s anti-racism accountability group concluded earlier this year.
Meanwhile, his publisher has announced that his memoir, Great and Unfortunate Things, will proceed with its scheduled release in the United States on Tuesday and in the United Kingdom on 27 August. The book chronicles his life journey from non-verbal early childhood through various personal achievements before his appointment at Cambridge. However, allegations of plagiarism in his PhD thesis have emerged, and certain biographical claims, including accounts of running 600 miles in six days and raising £5.5m for charity, have been questioned. Cambridge University has launched an investigation into his academic qualifications and honorary appointments.
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