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The paper posted an explanation on its website Sunday that said the promotional supplement that was sent to non-subscribers was printed on Oct. 23, three days before Ghomeshi’s firing and the start of a number of media reports containing allegations from women who say they were physically or sexually assaulted.

The “promotional advertising vehicle” contains “evergreens,” stories the paper considers its best work, executive editor David Shribman said in an interview Sunday.

Due to a schedule that sees the promotion printed 11 days in advance there was no way they could have pulled it back in time, Shribman said in a phone interview.

“We kind of got caught in the publication cycle,” he said.

“It’s not a question of stupidity, it’s a question of deadlines.”

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Shribman couldn’t provide an exact number of copies that were distributed but said they would have numbered in the “tens of thousands” of people. He said a note of explanation on the Ghomeshi piece would be in a future edition.

“The next time we print this thing… we will also clarify what’s going on with this guy.”

In 2010, Ghomeshi’s show, Q, was syndicated in the U.S. care of Public Radio International. The show now airs on more than 180 stations — including in Pittsburgh.

As many as nine women have alleged in media reports that Ghomeshi abused them physically and or sexually. Toronto police have launched an investigation after three women came forward with accusations.