Toronto Mayor Rob Ford called police after a crew from CBC's satirical show This Hour Has 22 Minutes showed up unexpectedly outside his house to interview him.
"I came out of my house and I was ambushed," Ford said.
Actress Mary Walsh, playing the character of journalist Marg Delahunty, was trying to interview Ford for a regular segment on This Hour Has 22 Minutes, in which Delahunty approaches politicians for surprise comedic interviews. Scores of Canadian politicians, including former Ontario premier Mike Harris, Quebec Premier Jean Charest and former prime minister Jean Chrétien, have been subjected to Walsh's surprise approach. Most try to endure the questions in Walsh's mock interviews with good humour.
But Ford was not laughing after Walsh's visit.
It was dark, Ford told reporters Monday evening, and two people who didn't identify themselves came running out of a car parked outside his home in Etobicoke and stopped him from getting into his car.
"There was a lady dressed up and she was screaming my name: 'We got you Rob Ford, we got you,'" Ford said, adding that his six-year-old daughter was frightened and went back into the home.
Ford said he went back into his house and called 911.
"I didn't know who they were and obviously I've had death threats and there was a camera and a mike," he said. "I'm open to the media, but when you come to my private house early in the morning and ambush me, I think that crosses the line."
CBC spokesman Chris Ball confirmed the show tried to interview Ford outside his home for an upcoming segment of the show.
"These surprise interviews are what 22 Minutes are known for and have been a part of the show for years," Ball said. "The interview began at the end of his driveway and concluded shortly thereafter. The crew had no interaction with the Toronto police."
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