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A widely circulated video of Mayor Rob Ford drunkenly threatening to kill someone merely depicts him doing an impersonation of professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, reads a statement of defence filed Wednesday in Ontario court.

The now-infamous rant occurred last August, just before Mr. Ford was set to face Mr. Hogan in an arm-wrestling match at the Fan Expo Convention.

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“The defendant is mimicking for the purpose of joking with friends at a private gathering [admittedly poorly] that professional wrestler in the portions of the video referenced by the plaintiff,” the document reads.

The 11-page document was filed in response to a lawsuit brought by Scott MacIntyre, the former spouse of Mr. Ford’s sister, Kathy Ford.

Mr. MacIntyre is seeking more $1-million from Mr. Ford and other defendants, including the Province of Ontario, and alleges the mayor conspired to have him attacked in jail to prevent the mayor’s illicit behaviours from becoming public.