Former Cambridge professor Jason Arday has canceled several promotional events for his upcoming memoir, Great and Unfortunate Things, following serious allegations of plagiarism and fabricated life experiences. The cancellations come after Cambridge University launched an investigation into his academic work and professional history.
Book Tour Cancellations
Two scheduled appearances for Mr. Arday have been called off. One was a ‘fireside chat’ at the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) on September 2, intended to discuss his research on racial inequality. The event listing was updated to state: ‘This session has been cancelled at the request of the speaker.’
Additionally, an event at the bookshop Topping and Co in Edinburgh, slated for September 18, was also canceled. Customers were notified via email on Saturday, with the message stating: ‘I am writing to let you know that our event with Jason Arday on the 18th of September will no longer be going ahead. I apologise for any disappointment this may cause.’
Allegations and Investigations
The controversy erupted when fellow academics accused Mr. Arday of plagiarizing others’ work and misrepresenting his past academic appointments. These accusations prompted Cambridge University to initiate an investigation, shortly after which Mr. Arday resigned from his position, citing the ‘personal cost’ of the furore as too great.
His memoir, Great and Unfortunate Things, is set to be published in the US on Tuesday. The book was described by its publisher, Simon & Schuster, as a narrative of ‘improbable triumphs.’ However, biographical details concerning alleged athletic achievements and fundraising accomplishments previously featured on the publisher’s author page have been removed. These removals reportedly occurred prior to the public emergence of the allegations.
Support Letter Under Scrutiny
In a related development, an online letter expressing support for Mr. Arday, purportedly signed by over 17,000 individuals, has faced significant criticism. The letter, hosted by the Good Law Project, asserts that Mr. Arday is the target of a ‘smear campaign’ and that the plagiarism allegations are ‘entirely false.’
The signatories list includes notable figures such as Green Party leader Zack Polanski, former Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell, and National Education Union General Secretary Daniel Kebede. However, the letter’s credibility has been undermined by the inclusion of:
- Clearly fake names like ‘FAKER’ and ‘guilty’.
- Names of well-known fictional characters associated with deception, such as ‘Walter Mitty’, ‘Billy Liar’, ‘Baron Munchausen’, and ‘Pinocchio’.
- References to public figures like ‘Matt Hancock’ and ‘Jussie Smollett’ (an actor convicted of faking a hate crime, though later overturned).
- An anonymous signatory using three clown emojis.
- Another signature reading ‘WaitMaybeHeISafraud’.
The founder of the Good Law Project, Jolyon Maugham, has reportedly distanced himself from the letter, stating he was on holiday during the controversy. While his organization agreed to host the letter, he clarified that it did not represent him ‘in any broader sense than this.’ Maugham expressed personal discomfort with descriptions of Arday as a ‘fantasist’ but acknowledged he lacked the expertise to speculate on the impact of neurodivergence on Arday’s statements.
Further criticism has been leveled at the letter for alleged content modifications. A reference to universities conducting ‘thorough investigations’ was reportedly deleted after hundreds had already signed. Additionally, names of several high-profile Cambridge figures were removed from the list.
Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty questioned the letter’s evolving narrative on social media platform X, asking, ‘The content and names supporting the Jason Arday open letter keep being edited to change the story it’s telling. Are we sure Jason Arday hasn’t written the letter himself?’
Past Claims and Publisher’s Response
Mr. Arday’s past public statements have included claims such as being unable to write until the age of 18, completing 30 marathons in 35 days, and raising £5 million for charitable causes. These extraordinary claims have also come under scrutiny amidst the current allegations.
Simon & Schuster, the publisher of Great and Unfortunate Things, has taken steps to revise the author’s information on its website. Biographical details related to Mr. Arday’s purported athletic feats and fundraising successes were removed from his author’s page before the allegations became public knowledge.
External Academics’ Role
It has also been reported that two academics who were part of the selection panel that appointed Professor Arday to his Cambridge role have published work critical of ‘whiteness’ in education. Michalinos Zembylas, a professor of educational theory at the Open University of Cyprus, and Professor Anoop Nayak from Newcastle University, were among the four external academics on the nine-member panel that unanimously selected Mr. Arday. The Good Law Project has not provided a comment regarding these developments.
Conclusion
The cancellation of Jason Arday’s book tour events marks a significant development in the ongoing controversy surrounding his memoir. As investigations continue and scrutiny intensifies over both the allegations and the public support for Mr. Arday, the future of his book’s promotion and his academic career remains uncertain.
