I suppose they were going to throw a big publicity budget at it as an "inspirational memoir", get him on the big US talk shows and so on, expecting that would get them a bestseller.
Jason Arday
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It's a tale that ticks so many boxes. They'd have been thinking it'll do big numbers for Christmas imo.
Look at the roster of influential people all singing its praises on the Amazon page, the publisher went to some effort to get all these:
Look at the roster of influential people all singing its praises on the Amazon page, the publisher went to some effort to get all these:
I saw Steve Pemberton and immediately wondered why one of my favourite writers and actors was being quoted then read on.
Still think Pauline would've had his measure immediately.
Still think Pauline would've had his measure immediately.
The industry really learned nothing from James Frey and JT LeRoy.
Although, if it sells do they really care if it's true?
I'm not sure they do care that much TBH - its embarrassing for a while, and as I said I think they'll have to can the book tour, but if it makes money I'm sure they'll find they can live with it.
(I also think that most memoirs contain a substantial amount of bull anyway. It's just not always picked up to the extent this chap's has been.)
(I also think that most memoirs contain a substantial amount of bull anyway. It's just not always picked up to the extent this chap's has been.)
There's a sort of tolerable threshold of bull, imo, but completely fabricating your backstory goes too far.
I think the fact that he lied his way into a prestigious job that someone actually qualified, and possibly even from a genuinely disadvantaged background, could have had, is what makes it particularly grating.
If he was just some podcast buller like all the rest, people would probably think less of it, if that makes sense?
Penguin books were heavily criticised and professionally embarrassed for failing to fact check Raynor Wynns ludicrous memoir, it seems the same researcher now works at Simon and Shuster publishers, probably married to one of the Cambridge Alumni who promoted Jason Arday.
Cambridge might want to take a look at their vetting process. Or at least the one for his department.
He can't be the only one who wasn't properly checked out. Not when his claims were so easily refuted.
Arday didn't specify the currency so my betting is on either Italian lira or Vietnamese dong.
Yeah, I think the nuance of how it’s spoken about, the focus, the impact, is going over your head.
I'd be intrigued to know if there's any truth to his having delayed speech or other difficulties.
I can see someone exaggerating that for a better story but entirely making that up would be quite extreme.
I thought exactly the same!!
His accent seems to change throughout the video
I read a list of his ‘stories’ and the amount he told over the years and the content is extraordinary.
Cambridge dons demand accountability over Jason Arday appointment | J…
archived 6 Aug 2026 18:49:28 UTC
So the Cambridge Dons want accountability but don't seem to want it off Arday or for an explanation for all his lies or his faked qualifications etc
I wonder if there should be a a wiki (or whatever it’s called, never done one before) of all his claims including sources.
Some of them are incredible and I’m slightly in awe about how long he got away with it all
Some of them are incredible and I’m slightly in awe about how long he got away with it all
This is a good article I thought
(by a black African English journalist)
(by a black African English journalist)
Some interesting comments in that latest Guardian article.
This professor seems to be suggesting that the university were so keen to make a media-friendly appointment, and pat themselves on the back for doing so, that they completely overlooked whether Arday was actually right for this job. And in so doing, they damaged rather than improved Black academia as a whole.
This professor seems to be suggesting that the university were so keen to make a media-friendly appointment, and pat themselves on the back for doing so, that they completely overlooked whether Arday was actually right for this job. And in so doing, they damaged rather than improved Black academia as a whole.
I may not be on the right algorithm to see it, but I haven’t seen outright racism about this… lots of ‘whataboutism’ (which I feel is baiting the public) and what I would consider prejudice of low expectations…
It devalues ‘experts’ and think he should be charged with wasting police time. It’s lowered my expectation of Polanski by standing by him, thought Corbyn would have done the same but thought Polanski was savvier.
Half know a guy from uni who gave JA energy. Never spoke to him irl but online he went on and on about his academic journey from [less well off part of London] to [fancy american university]. He’d constructed a whole narrative / personal brand rags to riches before his first grad job
It devalues ‘experts’ and think he should be charged with wasting police time. It’s lowered my expectation of Polanski by standing by him, thought Corbyn would have done the same but thought Polanski was savvier.
Half know a guy from uni who gave JA energy. Never spoke to him irl but online he went on and on about his academic journey from [less well off part of London] to [fancy american university]. He’d constructed a whole narrative / personal brand rags to riches before his first grad job
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