The encounter between UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and a homeless guy in a widely circulated video has drawn criticism for being utterly weird and “excruciating.”
On December 23, Sunak was working as a volunteer at a soup kitchen when a man arrived for breakfast. After exchanging pleasantries, Sunak asked the man, who introduced himself as Dean, how he was, to which the man replied, “hungry.” After asking him what he wanted and serving him a variety of cuisine, he continues the conversation.
The PM of Indian descent asks the man if he thinks the shelter is a wonderful place, and then inquires as to whether Sunak is sorting the economy out.
The 1:36 video has 11.5 million views and was first posted by a news outlet, which later attacked Sunak for being tone deaf until another journalist posted it.
View it here:
The video was also posted by Angela Rayner, the deputy leader of the opposition Labour Party, who called it “excruciating.”
The video was also mentioned on Twitter by Labour MP Jess Philips, who wrote: “Rishi Sunak cosplaying as a charity worker as homelessness and poverty soured under his stewardship of the economy and while his government drags its feet on the regulation against those profiting from homelessness and vulnerability is as cringe-worthy as expected.”
A few others said he didn’t patronize the man just because he was at a soup kitchen, and he did get some support online.
Sunak, a 42-year-old former investment banker from a wealthy background, has faced criticism before for being out of touch with the general public and making insensitive statements.
News Mania Desk
