LONDON — Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra called a homeless man, who asked him for food yesterday, “jealous” of him for purchasing a Chipotle Southwest Steak & Cheese sandwich from a Subway restaurant in downtown London.
“I had seen him go in there a few times, and I thought we established a good rapport,” said Michael Browne, a 36-year-old freelance clown who has lived in a cardboard box outside of the restaurant for the past three years. “I remember he looked at me once, and reached for his wallet like he was going to give me something. Then I think he got distracted or something, and he just went into the store.”
“Anyway, maybe the fifth time I saw him I was hungry, so I said ‘Hey can I have your sandwich?’ The bastard just kind of turned up his nose, and said, ‘You’re just jealous. The purchase was completely legal.’”
Thaksin certainly didn’t look like he needed the sandwich, Browne said, noting that Thaksin’s gut was “clearly visible” even though he wore a large winter coat. The popularly elected premier has spent much of his life in exile eating, shopping, and playing golf.
Reached by phone yesterday, Thaksin confirmed that he indeed said such things. He added that he could not be “more Catholic than the Pope.” “Oh, and tell my homeless funny man friend that the sandwich was tasty.”
