Matt Lucas has spoken out against “prejudice” in Britain, in his first public comments since being harassed on the London Underground by pro-Palestine activist Thomas Abdullah Bourne in February. The Little Britain star was filmed by Bourne, an Islamic convert, as they rode an elevator at a Tube station.
Speaking at a charity event for the '45 Aid Society, which supports child Holocaust survivors in Britain, Lucas said: “Prejudice comes through a lack of education, and we have a duty to educate people about what happened.” He added that he still believes “innately in the goodness of people in Britain”.
The incident occurred amid a surge of antisemitic attacks, including the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green and a string of attacks at synagogues. Television presenter Rob Rinder, who also spoke at the event, said a child shouted “Heil Hitler” at him in Soho following the Golders Green attack.
Bourne, a 39-year-old from east London, filmed himself harassing Lucas, seemingly solely on the basis of his Jewish heritage. During the encounter, he shouted “Free Palestine” and asked, “You don't like what I'm wearing, do you?” referring to his keffiyeh. Lucas attempted to block his face with his hand and responded “No” when asked if he had a problem with Palestinians.
Bourne, who is 6'11" and uses the social media handle “White British Muslim”, has since lost his job as a fundraising consultant as a direct result of the incident. He suggested Lucas was responsible for starting the altercation, claiming Lucas gave him an “uncomfortable, even hostile, look”.
The Met Police has set up a new unit of 100 officers to defend London's Jewish communities, with Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley describing the attacks as a “pandemic” of antisemitism.
