Matt O'Connor (activist)

Matt O’Connor (born February 1967) is a marketing consultant, political activist, and author. He is the founder and leader of the Fathers 4 Justice organisation.

Early life and business career
He was born in Manchester in February 1967, and grew up in Kent. His father was a headmaster of a Catholic school from Kerry, Ireland; his mother was an English teacher.

Fathers 4 Justice
Fathers 4 Justice was founded in 2001 in the UK by O'Connor. In 2007 he published his first book Fathers4Justice: The Inside Story through the Orion Publishing Group and sold the film rights to his life story to Buena Vista pictures, part of the Walt Disney group.

Ice cream
In 2009 O'Connor launched an ice cream brand 'The Icecreamists' at Selfridges' London store, then opened a shopfront in Covent Garden. He sold "extreme flavours" such as absinthe, crushed popcorn, and horseradish. In 2011 his Baby Gaga breast milk ice cream was removed from sale by Westminster Council for testing, but later returned. Newspapers reported that singer Lady Gaga threatened legal action over the possible use of her name.

His second book The Icecreamists was published 2012 by Octopus Publishing.

He was also the Creative Director for the Gelato brand Antonio Federici Gelato Italiano campaign launched in 2009. Several of the advertisements were later banned by the Advertising Standards Authority.

Mayoral candidacy
In 2008 he was a candidate in the London mayoral election for the English Democrats, but he pulled out a week before polling date, citing a lack of both support from the Democrats, and publicity from the press.

Publications

 * Fathers4Justice: The Inside Story (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2007) ISBN 978-0297853060
 * The Icecreamists: Boutique ice creams and other guilty pleasures to make and enjoy at home (Mitchell Beazley, 2012) ISBN 978-1845337063