A pro-Palestine activist confronted comedian Matt Lucas on the London Underground, sparking claims from former associates that he is a fantasist who adopted a name inspired by the fictional spy Jason Bourne.
Confrontation on the Tube
Thomas Abdullah Bourne, 39, a 6-foot-11-inch fundraising consultant from East London, followed the 51-year-old Jewish comedian onto an elevator at a Tube station last week. Video footage captures Bourne shouting “Free Palestine” and challenging Lucas about his keffiyeh scarf, asking, “You don’t like what I’m wearing, do you?” He then pressed, “You’ve got a problem with Palestinians, Matt?” Lucas calmly replied, “No,” while attempting to shield his face.
Activist’s Background and Name Change
Born Thomas Edward Oliver Heather, Bourne selected his surname as a homage to the Jason Bourne character portrayed by Matt Damon. Known online as “White British Muslim,” he converted to Islam in 2015 during a taxi ride after arriving in London from his hometown over a decade ago. Associates describe him as a “Walter Mitty” figure and class clown who thrives on attention and leaves chaos in his wake.
An estranged family member states, “He leaves a trail of destruction and chaos wherever he goes.” Another relative notes his freakish height made him locally known as “the tall man,” adding, “He has a lot of issues… a very chaotic lifestyle. He is a complete train wreck.”
Activism and Online Presence
Bourne frequently appears at protests, including one alongside former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, where he wore a keffiyeh and a fake press hat. Last month, he protested outside the Royal Courts of Justice with a sign reading, “UK Government kneecapping justice with fabricated charges.” He has also been photographed with punk rap duo Bob Vylan’s frontman.
His Instagram account, now deleted after the viral video, aimed to raise awareness about Palestine and counter Islamophobia. In an interview with Women of Resistance, Bourne explained, “Originally when I set up my social media, the whole point was to speak about what was happening in Palestine… I’ve experienced a lot of Islamophobia since I took my Shahadah back in 2015, and I wanted to break down these misconceptions about Muslims.”
Personal History and Lucas Context
Bourne’s behavior reportedly stems from a difficult childhood in Chippenham, where his father abandoned him and his younger brother. The incident’s motivation remains unclear, though online speculation links it to Lucas’s Jewish heritage. Lucas signed a 2023 open letter celebrating hostage releases and praised then-President Joe Biden’s support for Israel against Hamas, but he remains relatively quiet on the conflict.
Raised in a Reform Jewish family with Orthodox roots, Lucas identifies as an atheist and secular Jew. Family members fled Nazi Germany before World War II, and a relative appeared in Anne Frank’s diary, a discovery Lucas made on a genealogy show.
Lucas has not commented publicly, but social media users commend his composure during the encounter.
