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Arday, 41, resigned as a Cambridge professor of sociology of education last week after allegations of plagiarism and questions about some of his achievements. He had denied the claims.
A friend told the BBC Arday had described feeling "destroyed" and had told him his authorisation to travel to the US had been revoked.
Eamonn McCrystal, who became his friend at St Mary's University, Twickenham, tried to reassure him what he was going through would pass, but Arday replied "it does not feel like it will."
McCrystal told the BBC "He was the nicest person. So kind and such a gentle soul.
"We shared an office at university, when I set up the student radio station, and he used to speak on the station a lot"
"I'm in shock, I can't believe it."
The University of Cambridge vice-chancellor Prof Deborah Prentice led the tributes, saying the faculty was "desperately saddened" to learn of his death.
"Our heartfelt sympathies go to Jason Arday's family and friends at this incredibly difficult time," she added.
Education Secretary Lucy Powell said she was "deeply shocked and saddened" and urged people to "remember there are real people with loved ones involved".
Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said Arday was subjected to unrelenting media scrutiny.
He said he had faced "an unacceptable public hounding and campaign of abuse" and was the victim of "a pernicious public shaming".
"His death was a tragedy, but once again it should be a wake up call for all of us," he posted on X.
Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union said the "level of harassment he suffered and the racism he was subjected to has been sickening" and "must be investigated".
Lord Paul Boateng, who became the UK's first black cabinet minister in 2002, told BBC Newsnight he was "horrified, shocked and deeply saddened".
"Racism in academia is a fact of life and needs to be addressed," he added in a written statement.
In a statement on Saturday, National Education Union (NEU) general secretary Daniel Kebede said Arday had been subjected to "a public and brutal takedown that unleashed a tirade of racism".
"The effect has been chilling. It tells black people and others from underrepresented backgrounds that entering prominent public positions will make you a target," he said.
Director of the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge, Prof Simon Baron-Cohen told the Today programme Arday had been "bombarded by every media outlet to paint him as a fraud".
"He was an incredibly, kind and gentle and caring man," he said.
He spoke to Arday the morning of his death, and said the academic had felt unable to leave the house.
"He has experienced what he described as a campaign against him, for the last three years," he previously told BBC News.
"What he was saying to me was 'they've destroyed my life' - it's not clear who they were but I think he was referring to the media.
"The personal attacks on him have been so immense."
