Carla Bruni Befriends Homeless Man

France's first lady has offered to pay his bills at a hotel

By John Johnson, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 22, 2009 4:17 PM CST

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Carla Bruni Befriends Homeless Man — French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy pose before visiting a hospital in Creteil, near Paris, Tuesday Dec. 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Gerard Cerles; Pool)

Carla Bruni has a new friend, Denis, who lives near her luxury apartment—but on the street. France's first lady met the 53-year-old homeless man while taking her son to school, and the two have struck up a relationship. "She asks after me, she gives me one or two 50- or 100-euro notes," Denis said. He also got a signed copy of her latest album.

Bruni has even offered to put him up in a hotel, an offer which Denis politely declined, the BBC reports. "It's not that I enjoy being in the street, but I've got my habits," he said. "People say it's cold. That's true but I'm well covered up. What's more, Carla gave me a military-type duvet, which keeps me warm." Bruni first brought the friendship to light in a magazine interview.
(More Carla Bruni stories.)

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