Rob Ford’s Official Tweets Vs. Reality: a day-by-day comparison of the last two weeks
In the two weeks since news broke that Rob Ford (allegedly) smokes crack, the mayor has lost his temper, nearly a third of his staff and any semblance of dignity. The mayor’s official Twitter account, however, has been operating in an alternate reality—one in which Ford’s dealing with nothing more pressing than some pesky gypsy moths. Below, we compare life in Fordlandia to what’s really been going on.
Day 1
Reality: On May 16, Gawker publishes an article about a video in which Rob Ford appears to be smoking crack and the Toronto Star follows hours later. By the next morning, the story has been picked up around the world.
Fordlandia:
The long weekend is here! Catch a ferry to Toronto Island Park for a scenic picnic. Details here: http://t.co/wLq6BD9Zuh #LongWknd #Topoli
— Councillor Rob Ford (@TorontoRobFord) May 17, 2013
Days 2, 3
Reality: Ford cancels his weekly radio show. Deputy mayor Doug Holyday says Ford should address the story in more depth.
Fordlandia: Twitter silence
Day 4
Reality: Gawker’s crowd-funded Crackstarter campaign begins gaining momentum. @TOMayorFOrd quietly begins following Gawker editor John Cook.
Fordlandia:
Happy Victoria Day #Toronto. Check out @TorontoArchives they are now on twitter: http://t.co/liDatCbQg2 http://t.co/Z8sUuvEMqk
— Councillor Rob Ford (@TorontoRobFord) May 20, 2013
Day 5
Reality: Someone is shot at an apartment building on Dixon Road with some speculation that people looking for the video were responsible. Ford loses a major vote at council on casinos.
Fordlandia:
Good Morning #Toronto. Spraying will begin this week to control the infestation of the European Gypsy Moth.Details: http://t.co/LfkJNlcpuY
— Councillor Rob Ford (@TorontoRobFord) May 21, 2013
Day 6
Reality: In the cruelest cut yet, the Toronto Catholic District School Board tells Ford he’s no longer welcome as a volunteer football coach.
Fordlandia:
By 2016 the number of skyscrapers in #Toronto will increase by 40 per cent.Details: https://t.co/xQdMlwp9tL #TOpoli #TOCouncil
— Councillor Rob Ford (@TorontoRobFord) May 22, 2013
Day 7
Reality: Ford fires Mark Towhey, his chief of staff and a top adviser since the start of his election campaign, allegedly because Towhey wanted the mayor to go to rehab.
Fordlandia:
The Gypsy Moth aerial pesticide spraying will begin this weekend to deal with tree infestation. Details: http://t.co/CNUI6WiFut #Toronto
— Councillor Rob Ford (@TorontoRobFord) May 24, 2013
Day 8
Reality: Ford finally denies being a drug addict in a statement to media. He doesn’t take any questions and the presser utterly fails to end the scandal.
Fordlandia:
City Hall is the place to be this wknd for Doors Open #Toronto 10 am–5 pm. Details:http://t.co/v14AI3wlij #DOT13 #TOpoli
— Councillor Rob Ford (@TorontoRobFord) May 24, 2013
Day 9
Reality: The Globe and Mail publishes an exposé on the Ford family’s history with drugs. Doug Ford is accused of being a hash dealer in the 1980s.
Fordlandia: Twitter silence.
Day 10
Reality: The Ford brothers return to their radio show and say the crack video doesn’t exist. Rob calls reporters are “maggots” (for which he later apologizes).
Fordlandia:
On the air now on Newstalk 1010 with Cllr Doug Ford #Ford1010 #topoli pic.twitter.com/ta3Zd4YN61
— Councillor Rob Ford (@TorontoRobFord) May 26, 2013
Day 11
Reality: Mayor Ford’s communications staff members George Christopolous and Isaac Ransom both resign “on principle,” amid reports that Ford has stopped taking their advice.
@TOMayorFord:
Welcome @a_massoudi. My new press secretary. #Toronto #TOpoli
— Councillor Rob Ford (@TorontoRobFord) May 27, 2013
Day 12
Reality: Ford spends his 44th birthday chairing an executive committee meeting and listening to people yell about Israel and Palestine. Reports surface that his aide David Price knew the location of the video.
@TOMayorFord:
Thanks for all the birthday wishes! #TOpoli #Toronto pic.twitter.com/LNXejv91O9
— Councillor Rob Ford (@TorontoRobFord) May 28, 2013
Day 13
Reality: The Star reports that staff may have been ordered to destroy city documents that belonged to recently-departed staff, which Ontario’s Information and Privacy Commissioner says is a no-no. Whoever is now behind the @TOMayorFord account debuts a new, more combative tone.
@TOMayorFord:
Under my leadership we have reduced the size & cost of Gov't & found savings we are now investing into our infrastructure needs #Toronto
— Councillor Rob Ford (@TorontoRobFord) May 29, 2013
Day 14
Reality: Reports suggest Ford knew the location of the video shortly after the story broke. Two more staff depart Ford’s office. Premier Kathleen Wynne says she’s “worried about the situation” and will intervene if appropriate.
Fordlandia:
The important work of my office carries on. Calls are being returned and emails are being responded to. #RespectForTaxpayers #TOpoli
— Councillor Rob Ford (@TorontoRobFord) May 31, 2013
Day 15 (Today)
Reality: Councillors Josh Matlow and Jaye Robinson tell CBC Radio Ford should step aside. The National Post goes to the apartment where the crack video was rumoured to be stashed, where a resident tells them Ford has been previously spotted around the neighbourhood.
Fordlandia:
Our deepest condolences go out to the friends and families of the 4 individuals involved in the Ornge air ambulance crash last night.
— Councillor Rob Ford (@TorontoRobFord) May 31, 2013
(Images: screenshot from @TOMayorFord Twitter account; media, Don Peat)
 smokes crack, the mayor has lost his temper, nearly a third of his staff and any semblance of dignity. The mayor’s official Twitter account, however, has been operating in an alternate reality—one in which Ford’s dealing with nothing more pressing than some pesky gypsy moths. Below, we compare life in Fordlandia to what’s really been going on.
Day 1
Reality: On May 16, Gawker publishes an article about a video in which Rob Ford appears to be smoking crack and the Toronto Star follows hours later. By the next morning, the story has been picked up around the world.
Fordlandia:
https://twitter.com/TOMayorFord/status/335361467559862272
Days 2, 3
Reality: Ford cancels his weekly radio show. Deputy mayor Doug Holyday says Ford should address the story in more depth.
Fordlandia: Twitter silence
Day 4
Reality: Gawker’s crowd-funded Crackstarter campaign begins gaining momentum. @TOMayorFOrd quietly begins following Gawker editor John Cook.
Fordlandia:
https://twitter.com/TOMayorFord/status/336499812625182720
Day 5
Reality: Someone is shot at an apartment building on Dixon Road with some speculation that people looking for the video were responsible. Ford loses a major vote at council on casinos.
Fordlandia:
https://twitter.com/TOMayorFord/status/336818955102588928
Day 6
Reality: In the cruelest cut yet, the Toronto Catholic District School Board tells Ford he’s no longer welcome as a volunteer football coach.
Fordlandia:
https://twitter.com/TOMayorFord/status/337302945169276931
Day 7
Reality: Ford fires Mark Towhey, his chief of staff and a top adviser since the start of his election campaign, allegedly because Towhey wanted the mayor to go to rehab.
Fordlandia:
https://twitter.com/TOMayorFord/status/337747744531820545
Day 8
Reality: Ford finally denies being a drug addict in a statement to media. He doesn’t take any questions and the presser utterly fails to end the scandal.
Fordlandia:
https://twitter.com/TOMayorFord/status/337989996877320192
Day 9
Reality: The Globe and Mail publishes an exposé on the Ford family’s history with drugs. Doug Ford is accused of being a hash dealer in the 1980s.
Fordlandia: Twitter silence.
Day 10
Reality: The Ford brothers return to their radio show and say the crack video doesn’t exist. Rob calls reporters are “maggots” (for which he later apologizes).
Fordlandia:
https://twitter.com/TOMayorFord/status/338703322498351104
Day 11
Reality: Mayor Ford’s communications staff members George Christopolous and Isaac Ransom both resign “on principle,” amid reports that Ford has stopped taking their advice.
@TOMayorFord:
https://twitter.com/TOMayorFord/status/339105093989322752
Day 12
Reality: Ford spends his 44th birthday chairing an executive committee meeting and listening to people yell about Israel and Palestine. Reports surface that his aide David Price knew the location of the video.
@TOMayorFord:
https://twitter.com/TOMayorFord/status/339420956118376448
Day 13
Reality: The Star reports that staff may have been ordered to destroy city documents that belonged to recently-departed staff, which Ontario’s Information and Privacy Commissioner says is a no-no. Whoever is now behind the @TOMayorFord account debuts a new, more combative tone.
@TOMayorFord:
https://twitter.com/TOMayorFord/status/339770257742901248
Day 14
Reality: Reports suggest Ford knew the location of the video shortly after the story broke. Two more staff depart Ford’s office. Premier Kathleen Wynne says she’s “worried about the situation” and will intervene if appropriate.
Fordlandia:
https://twitter.com/TOMayorFord/status/340262389670883328
Day 15 (Today)
Reality: Councillors Josh Matlow and Jaye Robinson tell CBC Radio Ford should step aside. The National Post goes to the apartment where the crack video was rumoured to be stashed, where a resident tells them Ford has been previously spotted around the neighbourhood.
Fordlandia:
https://twitter.com/TOMayorFord/status/340487242806079489
(Images: screenshot from @TOMayorFord Twitter account; media, Don Peat)){kind=link}
No mention of the infamous, now deleted, #respectfortaxpatyers tweet from Day 14?
It read, in full:
@TOMayorFord: ” I was elected to keep taxes low and reduce the size and cost of government- and that’s exactly what I’m doing. #RespectForTaxpatyers #TOpoli”
Of course, Ford was certainly reducing the size and cost of government with the latest resignations/firings in the Mayor’s Office.