Mayor John Tory (open John Tory's policard) is poking fun at his unfamiliarity with rap superstar Kanye West in a video released through his Twitter account.

In the gag clip posted Thursday, titled “Yeezus, can't believe I didn’t know @KimKardashian’s husband wasn't Canadian!” Tory puts on earphones and nods to West’s hit “Stronger” as he gets on a crowded subway car at St. George station.

Tory, wearing a trucker hat, sits down, flips through a newspaper and stops cold at a photo of West’s curvy wife, reality TV star Kim Kardashian West, showing a lot of cleavage.

Toronto’s mayor then mocks amazement, sucking in his cheeks and ogling Kardashian before moving his hand up over the photo and turning the page.

The video then shows Tory returning to city hall and posing with the big Toronto sign in Nathan Phillips Square, putting the song’s “Better, Faster, Stronger” chant over the city logo.

The video, just over a minute long, references Tory’s comments Wednesday after it was revealed that West will play the Pan Am Games closing ceremonies.

Tory seemed to suggest then to reporters that West, an American, is a Canadian star. Some thought he was confusing West with Toronto rap star K’Naan.

Later, on NewsTalk 1010, 61-year-old Tory made light of his ignorance about the rap star.

“All I can focus on with Kanye West is who he is married to,” the mayor said. “I only know who his wife is, that’s all I know about him and now I know he’s an American, so there we go.”

Asked what he knows about Kardashian, Tory said: “Just that she is part of that very colourful, interesting family and that she seems to pose in pictures that show off her ample posterior on a regular basis.”

Amanda Galbraith, Tory’s communications director, told the Star the mayor was not putting his hand on the photo of Kardashian West.

“He’s turning the page,” Galbraith said, adding she checked with Tory aide Bryan Frois who was at the video shoot.

Galbraith had nothing more to say about the video, which on Twitter was panned by many and appreciated by some.

“I thought the ogling and implied fondling of Kardashian was really disappointing,” tweeted Tricia Wood. “It will be a great day when Toronto has a mayor who doesn't make us cringe.”

Sean Clarke’s message was: “lighten up everybody, it's summer and this is of no consequence.”

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The video hit Twitter as Tory was at a police services board meeting where several protesters interrupted the proceedings to demand answers in the police slaying of Andrew Loku.

Loku, a 45-year-old father of five, was shot dead by Toronto police July 5 at his Gilbert Ave. apartment complex. Loku was wielding a hammer during a noise dispute with a neighbour.

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