The tragic death of Jason Arday, a former professor at the University of Cambridge, has stirred strong reactions across academia and the wider public. Arday resigned from his position just nine days before his death, amid allegations of plagiarism and questions about the authenticity of his personal background. At the time of his resignation, he stated that he no longer wanted to live under constant public scrutiny, where every aspect of his life was open to judgment. The controversy continued with the publication of Arday’s memoirs, which reignited public interest in the allegations against him. In the UK, media coverage of the case was extensive, with over 242 articles about Arday appearing in British newspapers between July 25 and August 20, according to Matt Walsh, head of the School of Journalism, Media and Culture at Cardiff University. Walsh suggested that the level of public attention Arday received was disproportionate to any wrongdoing he might have committed. Cambridge University Chancellor Chris Smith described the media coverage as a “racist feeding frenzy” that focused on Arday. A joint statement from Amnesty UK’s anti-racism and disabled people’s networks warned that accountability should not lead to dehumanization, harassment, or online bullying. They emphasized that public discussions must avoid reducing individuals to targets of relentless scrutiny and speculation. As a cultural historian, the concept of the “scapegoat” comes to mind when considering the intense scrutiny Arday faced. The term refers to a person who is unfairly blamed for the problems of a group. In this case, Arday, an autistic Black man, became the focus of public blame, with his alleged misconduct framed as a racialized spectacle. Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, compared Arday’s treatment to a pre-modern ritual, where an “outsider” is both revered and humiliated as a symbolic way to deal with societal tensions. Scapegoating often masks a deeper issue of accountability, shifting focus from systemic failures to individual blame. It allows people to express anger or fear without confronting larger societal problems. In Arday’s case, his appearance, race, and identity became focal points for public judgment, overshadowing the actual academic concerns. As discussions continue, the need for a more balanced and empathetic approach to accountability and public discourse remains critical.