Toronto councillor apologizes for ‘hot chicks’ tweet
Posted June 21, 2011 6:57 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Toronto Coun. John Parker has apologized for making a controversial post on Twitter that included the phrase “hot chicks.”
“Delighted and honoured to help unveil eight new Toronto heritage plaques and meet hot chicks in the bargain. I love my job,” Parker, who represents Don Valley West, tweeted Monday.
The comment came after he attended a Heritage Toronto event Monday morning on behalf of council that unveiled plaques honouring some of the city’s notable past citizens.
The councillor, whose tweets often show a wry sense of humour, quickly deleted his comment from the social networking site Monday afternoon after a Toronto Star reporter inquired about it.
But Toronto Mayor Rob Ford was not impressed with Parker’s comment and said that he’d speak to the councillor about it. Parker said he and the mayor swapped messages and that Ford was aware he’d be apologizing publicly Tuesday.
“I understand that my comment that was meant all in good fun and good humour has caused offence and I’m unhappy with that,” Parker told CityNews’ Avery Haines. “So if apologizing can help the situation I’m more than happy to apologize for what was an unwise remark.”
After apologizing, Parker called the incident regrettable, and said it was unfortunate that his comments took away from the importance of the Heritage Toronto ceremony.
“I’m sorry anything I did changed the channel on that,” he said.
He added that most of the calls he has received about the matter have been from people wondering what all the fuss is about.
Some colleagues agreed.
Coun. Denzil Minnan-Wong said, “This is much ado about nothing. Councillor Parker was doing this in good fun.”
“I myself don’t take any offence to it, and I think we should move on,” Coun. Kristyn Wong-Tam.
However, Coun. Paula Fletcher considered “hot chicks” a sexist term.
“It’s kind of like from my high school days, and I think we need to move past high school days here at City Hall — all of us including Councillor John Parker,” she said.
