Ibram X. Kendi Blames White-Owned Media for Jason Arday's Death, Drawing Backlash
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 19
Ibram X. Kendi Blames White-Owned Media for Jason Arday's Death, Drawing Backlash
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 19
Summary
Kendi said in an Emancipator essay and X post that “White-owned, mainstream media” helped cause British academic Jason Arday’s death through sustained attacks over plagiarism allegations and disputed biographical claims.
Arday had resigned after Cambridge opened an investigation into accusations he plagiarized work and misrepresented parts of his life story, including claims about speech, literacy and marathon running.
Critics across X, including conservative commentators and anti-racism writer Richard Hanania, condemned Kendi’s remarks as race-based deflection and rejected his use of “lynching” language.
BBC reported Arday was found unresponsive at a south London address; police said the death was unexpected but not believed suspicious, while Cambridge expressed condolences.
The backlash also revived scrutiny of Kendi’s own record after Boston University’s antiracism center, once backed by tens of millions of dollars, closed in 2025 following management criticism.