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Four days after two media outlets reported they saw video of Rob Ford smoking crack-cocaine and making a homophobic slur about Justin Trudeau, the embattled Toronto mayor remains out of the public eye and a crowdfunding campaign passed $75,000 in donations to purchase the alleged video.

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Look – Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is not venal, malevolent or a cheat.

That said, just the sound of his name now makes me want to lie down with a cold cloth on my brow.

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Besides the mayor’s brisk response Friday and Councillor Doug Ford issuing an even narrower denial Saturday, the normally-combative Fords have laid low since Gawker and the Toronto Star made the allegations Thursday evening. The Fords cancelled their regular Sunday talk show after the explosive reports made international headlines.

Doug Ford told radio station CFRB on Saturday that “I have never seen my brother involved with anything like coke,” but other than that, the Fords have been quiet all long weekend.

On Friday, Rob Ford seemed to suggest the video was made up by the Star, but never addressed any of the specific allegations made, nor the fact that the story was actually first reported on Gawker, not in the Star.

“These allegations are ridiculous,” Mayor Ford said at a hastily called press conference in front of his office. “It’s another story with respect to the Toronto Star going after me. That’s all I’ve got to say for now.”

Toronto city councillors — enemies, moderates and allies — have all called on Ford to directly address the issue.

Counc. Josh Matlow said Ford should resign if the video is proven to be true.

“Serious accusations have been made against the mayor of Toronto. If they are proven to be true beyond a reasonable doubt, he should resign,” he tweeted Saturday.