A double-edged sword

Rob Ford’s battle with political satire

By Connor Atkinson

​

Rob Ford’s brother Doug thinks Andy King is a scumbag.

King is the director of the satirical comedy Filth City, a film about a mayor who gets caught on camera using crack cocaine and tries to ensure the footage does not get seen by the public. Although it was shot in 2015 (before Ford’s death), a CP24 broadcast from March quoted Doug saying that King had better not be “crossing the street when I am driving down the road.”

King says it was hard to not comment on those front-page headlines. “The fact that there was so much controversy shows that people still have strong feelings about,” King says. “There’s always a ‘too soon,’ but he’s a public figure who became a part of our lives and how we relate to each other. I actually never thought he would die. I thought he was invincible.”

Despite the tragic nature of the situation, King says it does not obliterate his record in office, which never strayed far from controversy. Between the infamous video of Ford’s drug use to racialized remarks and sexual harassment allegations, his reputation was a constant topic in the media.

Ford paid a visit to Jimmy Kimmel Live on March 3, 2014 to state his case against the controversy that was staining his reputation. King recalls watching Ford’s appearance and the further negative impact it had on his political career.

“I think he enjoyed the attention,” King says. “I remember hew as saying that he ‘loves the city of Toronto’ and was ‘proud of the city.’ In some ways, I respected that. It was just very misguided.”

While Ford was constantly on the media’s radar in pursuit of their next punchline, political satire also elevated devotion from some of his supporters. Ford’s persona had a relatable complexity that kept people interested, whether they were laughing at him or cheering for him.

Erica Petkov says the embrace of right-wing populists like Ford stems from conservatives who are tired of being mocked. A PhD candidate in the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto, her focus groups for doctorate research express that Ford gripped supporters when he made “Promises to fight against ‘smug liberal elites.’”.

“He was mocked mercilessly during his time in office,” Petkov said. “He was portrayed as a deeply flawed man who committed many gaffs, but was likeable to many people.”

Petkov feels that the media’s use of direct quotes as punchlines made him irresistible for comedians. Often the jokes told themselves. This increased likability among his supports and the extent to which Ford’s naysayers disliked him.

“He was an ordinary person, a man of the people,” Petkov said. “When he was made fun of, they wouldn’t think to not support him. It would reinforce why they liked him. Ordinary people like him are the target of endless mockery and ridicule.”

Like an unconditional love, King recognizes the cognitive dissonance that went on amongst his supporters.

“There’s something about that character- where they speak like the common man even though they come from wealthy backgrounds and are somehow relatable… They’re vulnerable to us, in a way,” said King. “You look at someone like John Tory and don’t know who he really is. You felt like you knew Rob Ford. Love him or hate him, there was some sense of who he was. It’s so relatable for people… so we’re willing to overlook the negative aspects of that person.”

Despite that cognitive dissonance, Petkov insists that the art of satire is important. It formats news into a cathartic, digestible context and assists young consumers of media in navigating ideas. It becomes less about reading the news, and more about why the news matters.

“It improves one’s sense of internal political ethics; the extent to which people are capable of understanding and participating in politics,” she says.

While satirical comedy is influenced by politics, King believes that outlandish politicians like Ford are not dictated or phased by satire. Instead, they are influenced by their own ego.

“That’s why we have to satirize them – to expose that level of arrogance and narcissism.”