Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti has formally retracted a Tuesday statement that blamed two drug-related deaths at a weekend music festival on organizer INK Entertainment and its chief executive.

INK and CEO Charles Khabouth had threatened to sue Mammoliti over his claim that they were a negligent “responsible party” to the drug-related deaths of VELD Music Festival attendees Annie Truong-Le, 20, and Willard Amurao, 22.

Mammoliti issued a second statement late on Friday afternoon, nearly a full day after the deadline set by INK’s lawyer.

“Despite media reports, I have not been contacted by any representatives or members of INK Entertainment. I would, however, like to retract my comment directed to INK Entertainment and Charles Khabouth in my previous statement,” Mammoliti wrote.

“It was not my intent to name them as directly responsible or negligent parties relating to the very tragic deaths of 2 people. Based on previous comments made by the organizers claiming security at these events is always top notch, I felt a level of outrage at hearing of 2 deaths and 13 hospitalizations occurring at the most recent (electronic dance music) event.”

Mammoliti’s new statement did not mention city councillors Gord Perks and Mike Layton, whom he had also blamed directly for the deaths despite the fact they were not at all involved in the festival. Unlike Khabouth, Perks and Layton had not threatened a lawsuit.

The festival was held at Downsview Park, which is owned by a federal Crown corporation. The eccentric Mammoliti targeted Perks and Layton because they have expressed support for electronic dance music events at city-owned Exhibition Place, where Mammoliti wants a ban.

The lawyer for INK and Khabouth, James Zibarras, did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Friday afternoon.