Toronto Mayor Rob Ford took time to explain a photo taken over the weekend in which he is seen with alleged members of the Hells Angels, stating that he wasn't aware with whom he had his photo taken.
The photo of Ford and three men was taken Sunday at the Buffalo Bills game in Toronto. It later appeared on the website for the Toronto Hells Angels, with the mayor and two members of the biker gang identified. A third man is identified as a "prospect" for the Hells Angels.
At a press conference Tuesday to kick off the annual Christmas Toy Drive, Ford responded to reporters' questions over the photo.
"You guys and your photos," Ford said, shaking his head. "I don't even know what photo you're talking about … I took probably about close to 1,000 pictures before the game, during the game, at half-time... after the game.
"How am I supposed to know who's who? Seriously, I don't check for people's credentials and ask for resumes before I take a picture."
The mayor re-iterated that he takes pictures with every single person who wants to take one with him.
"So if they put it on the website, what can I do?" he asked. "I wasn't aware that I was taking a picture with the Hells Angels."
This isn't the first time a Toronto mayor was seen with members of the Hells Angels. In 2002, then mayor Mel Lastman shook hands with a Hells Angels member. Lastman later said he didn't know who the Hells Angels were.
Ford has been in the media spotlight since admitting in early November to smoking crack cocaine while in a "drunken stupor." He has since been stripped of most of his mayoral powers, serving mostly as a figurehead.
With files from CTV Toronto's Natalie Johnson
