Olivia Chow gets the Iron Sheik’s endorsement, then apologizes
Something about the circus-like atmosphere fostered by Rob Ford has blurred the line between Toronto politics and professional wrestling. First there was this business with Hulk Hogan, and now another former WWF strongman has managed to insert himself into the mayoral race.
According to the Sun, the Iron Sheik had a rendezvous with Olivia Chow at the downtown location of Belly Buster Submarines—a shop that happens to be owned by his agent. (He was in town to promote a new documentary about his life, which is premiering at Hot Docs.) During this impromptu sandwich summit, the Sheik gave Chow’s campaign his personal blessing. “God bless her,” the Sun quotes him as saying. “And I want all the people in toronto to vote for Olivia Chow to become the mayor of Toronto.” Ford, meanwhile, earned the wrestler’s scorn. (“Rob Ford, you are the real jabroni,” he said.)
All of which is amusing enough on its surface. Except, in the days since the meeting took place, it has morphed into a mini-scandal—the first of its kind for Chow in this election—because of the Sheik’s wildly sexist and homophobic public persona. In his latest column, the Post‘s Matt Gurney wonders why Chow wasn’t immediately the target of a media pile-on, the way Ford has been when photographed in the company of shady characters. Is there a difference between the Iron Sheik, and, say, some Hells Angels?
Even assuming, for the sake of argument, that Chow was in the wrong, here’s one reason she’s not being subjected to a Ford-style drubbing in the media. Soon after Gurney’s column was published, she apologized:
I met the Iron Sheik around his film. I do not condone his hurtful & unacceptable comments. I should have read them and didn’t. I apologize.
— Olivia Chow (@oliviachow) April 28, 2014
Which is something Ford would do only after allowing the problem to fester for weeks or months. Let this be a reminder: if any of the mayor’s rivals seem to be having an easier time in the press than him, it’s likely because they’ve earned it.
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/city/olivia-chow-gets-iron-sheiks-endorsement-apologizes/&title=Olivia Chow gets the Iron Sheik’s endorsement, then apologizes&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/olivia-chow-iron-sheik-624x395.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_271509" align="alignnone" width="656"] (Image: Chow: Olivia Chow/Facebook; Sheik: Sheikshow.com)[/caption]
Something about the circus-like atmosphere fostered by Rob Ford has blurred the line between Toronto politics and professional wrestling. First there was this business with Hulk Hogan, and now another former WWF strongman has managed to insert himself into the mayoral race.
According to the Sun, the Iron Sheik had a rendezvous with Olivia Chow at the downtown location of Belly Buster Submarines—a shop that happens to be owned by his agent. (He was in town to promote a new documentary about his life, which is premiering at Hot Docs.) During this impromptu sandwich summit, the Sheik gave Chow's campaign his personal blessing. "God bless her," the Sun quotes him as saying. "And I want all the people in toronto to vote for Olivia Chow to become the mayor of Toronto." Ford, meanwhile, earned the wrestler's scorn. ("Rob Ford, you are the real jabroni," he said.)
All of which is amusing enough on its surface. Except, in the days since the meeting took place, it has morphed into a mini-scandal—the first of its kind for Chow in this election—because of the Sheik's wildly sexist and homophobic public persona. In his latest column, the Post's Matt Gurney wonders why Chow wasn't immediately the target of a media pile-on, the way Ford has been when photographed in the company of shady characters. Is there a difference between the Iron Sheik, and, say, some Hells Angels?
Even assuming, for the sake of argument, that Chow was in the wrong, here's one reason she's not being subjected to a Ford-style drubbing in the media. Soon after Gurney's column was published, she apologized:
https://twitter.com/oliviachow/status/460836303282925568
Which is something Ford would do only after allowing the problem to fester for weeks or months. Let this be a reminder: if any of the mayor's rivals seem to be having an easier time in the press than him, it's likely because they've earned it.){kind=link}
Kudos to Chow’s campaign manager! At this rate, she’ll drop out of the race in a week!
Chow was in the wrong and she was hanging out with a band called SFH (Chit From Hell). Kinsella, her campaign manager, is the lead singer she was hanging out like a groupy signing the guitar palyers arm!! LOL!! She should cut the BS “Family Image”!! She has alot of nerve saying anything about Ford!! She is a freak show her self!!
Glenn, you’re a tool and your music is atrocious. You should get a rope and hang yourself.
… better go running off to tell the organ banks over at IHTWOMRF so you can all have a little beat-off session over the news of this so-called “scandal”.
Ford doesn’t meet with homophobic wife beater Sheik and gets a beating in the media.
Chow meets with him and gets a free pass by the media.
Imagine if it were the other way around.
Belly Buster Submarines? Sure sounds pro-Ford.
You first, Geoff ;) I’m sure beating off is something with with you have considerable experience.
who is Geoff
Not the first racist homophobe from Iran Olivia Chow has been friendly with:
http://eyecrazy.blogspot.mx/2014/01/olivia-chow-wants-to-be-your-kids-role.html
Give me the time back I wasted reading that cow dung.
Right. Because punk rock that mocks RoFo must be against your stupid idea of what family values are. A widow enjoying a night out with friends must also fall under that category. Grow up Glenn.
Chow is hanging out in trashy bars like a groupy. Whit a burnt out 90’s Punk band called SFH Shit From Hell. Is far from the BS :”Family Image” she is trying to cast. She is a Fraud trying to BS people with her “Higher Ground Image”. She is acting like a tramp!!!
“something with with you have”
lol, great writing there Bob. I bet you sell dozens of books. At least to your fellow IHTWOMRF mouth-breathers. Hey, you should do a “Ford Nation” book/CD combo with Glenn Zumbor, I’m sure that would sell (to your fellow IHTWOMRF mouth-breathers) also.
Wow you’re an idiot. (Glenn)
meanwhile, your hero hangs out with party-drug-loving club goers at places like Musik. He thinks they all love him but really they’re all just laughing at him and grabbing a piece of his fleeting infamy.
At least he is keeping it real!!! Chow is acting like a 50+ groupy bar tramp!! Partying with a bunch of burnt out old farts still stuck in a 90’s Punk band!!! LMAO Real “Family Image ” there Chow, enough of your BS, grow up!!! Go Ford Go!!!!
as opposed to a 44-yr old, 300-lb+ groupy club kid? Partying with a bunch of e-taking ravers? LMAO real “man of the people” there Ford, enough of your lies, go away! Go far, far away!
Ford is not partying with them just taking selfies that they all want!! Chow is being a Trampy Groupy for the SFH, Shit From Hell, old fart burnt out 90’s punk band, big difference!!!
Plus, she is the one trying to sell “Family Ethics” what a bunch of BS the fraud Chow is trying to sell. What kind of 50+ mother hangs out like a groupy tramp with SFH, Shit From Hell, Old Farts 90’s punk burnt ouit band. Great “Family Image” if your mother is a burnt out Jabroni!! LMAO
sounds like you’re jealous that she still rocks out like a boss. Meanwhile, you use a drum machine to make lame, whiny songs about how everyone is supposedly taking your democracy and human rights away. lmao indeed. Rofflemow, even.
She groupin like a tramp you mean!! She is the one pushing her launch from a Church about “Family Ethics” but hanging out like a tramp at night with the burnt out old farts stuck in the 90’s. Still Playing lame 3 chord songs with no dynamics, just loud distorted shit!! Hence the name SFH – Shit From Hell. How about naming your band OFSOP. – Old Farts Stuck On Punk!! A dead genre!! LOL!! Try some current styles!! And Don’t pretend to be able to tell the difference between real drums and drum machines. Because I Do Not Use A Drum Machine!! All real drums – Fool Boy Clown!! But I guess anyone who is stuck in 90’s Punch is a burn out!! LMAO – Loser!!!
Still singing that tune there Glenny boy?
Can’t take the truth!! LMAO Chow Jabroni is a fraud we all know it but you!!! LMAO!!!
Kinsella is working for Tory. Chow Jabroni hasn’t figured it out yet!!! LMAO!!!
Holy shit, shut up.
LOL @ Glenn “at least he is keeping it real” … actually it’s the complete opposite … he keeps lieing and has no integrity. He goes on like a spoiled teenage boy, lieing, getting caught, lieing again … That’s the problem.
How many personalities do you have Glenn? “We all know it but you” yet yours seems to be one of the only voices.
@ Sangye – Chow is a Fraud trying to pretend she has class and cares for families!! Her and Jack O Tug with under age girls, lived in housing meant for the less fortunate – they didn’t give a Chit then – She doesn’t fool me now!! Just clowns like you would vote for a BSing low class groupy like Chow Jabroni!!
Oh look, it’s “good egg” and full-time raving lunatic Geoff Thomlinson — host of Facebook’s Bizarro Mayor Rob Ford page — under one of his countless aliases.Tell the me the next show you will take some crappy photos at, Geoffrey…I want to meet you in person.
well gosh … I’m flattered that you hold me in such high regard, but I’m not Geoff.
Also, you and the doofi at IHTWOMRF need to get new brains … or just get brains.