Toronto’s mayor denies he was caught on video smoking crack

Both Gawker and the Toronto Star published articles during the evening hours about a video which appears to depict Ford smoking crack cocaine. The Star was fairly cautious with its reporting, stating it could not verify the authenticity of the video itself nor whether the man in it, who did appear to be Ford, was actually abusing crack cocaine.

Gawker was more definitive in its take: “He was f—ing hiiiiigh,” wrote blogger John Cook.

Ford’s attorney, Dennis Morris, contacted Gawker via email. He wrote, in regards to Gawker‘s plans to post a screenshot from the video:

“Mayor Ford denies such took place, and if such posting occurs, it is false and defamatory, and you will be held legally accountable. In reference to the photo you wish to publish, Mayor Ford has his photo taken daily, sometimes with others.”

The Star contacted Morris for comment, and the attorney seemed to admit the subject of the video was smoking something; it was simply impossible to tell what.