Friends In Low Places: Toronto Crack Mayor Rob Ford Defends Justin Bieber
Jan. 30 2014, Published 4:54 p.m. ET
Justin Bieber isn't the only Canadian making headlines with his bad behavior in recent weeks. Now, notorious Toronto crack mayor Rob Ford is speaking out in support of his similarly criticized countryman.
Ford was a guest on Washington D.C.'s "Sports Junkies" radio show Thursday morning, when the hosts called Bieber "Canada's worst export." The mayor, who has admitted to smoking crack, among other embarrassing foibles, groaned in response and said, "Come on!"
"He's a young guy, 19 years old," Ford said. "I wish I was successful as he was. Nineteen years old, guys, think back to when you were 19, you know?"
Bieber turned himself in to authorities in Toronto Wednesday in connection with an alleged attack on a limo driver last year, and was charged with assault.
The same day, his lawyer pleaded not guilty for him in his Miami DUI drag racing case.
He also faces an ongoing felony vandalism investigation connected to an alleged egging attack on his neighbor's house back in Los Angeles.
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Ford, meanwhile, had his mayoral powers stripped by a city council after he admitted to using crack "in a drunken stupor," but he insisted Thursday that he has no plans to step down from his position -- even though he was videotaped intoxicated in public last week, an incident he called a "setback."