Skip to main content

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford answers questions about three new staffers he hired at a press conference at city hall in Toronto on Friday, May 31, 2013.Michelle Siu/The Canadian Press

Toronto police have charged a woman who is alleged to have thrown a drink at embattled Mayor Rob Ford.

Police say a cup of juice was thrown at Ford on Saturday afternoon while he was attending an Italian street festival.

Police had no other details about the incident or whether there is any connection to the negative publicity the mayor has received in recent weeks.

Mr. Ford addressed the incident on his radio show on Sunday.

"There was something in that cup. I tried to take a quick whiff – I don't know if it was rye or vodka or something," he said while laughing, before adding: "It's not funny. That hurt, man. When it hits you in the face, you don't expect it, right?"

Mr. Ford's brother Doug, who is a councillor and co-hosts the radio show, asked listeners to call him or his brother instead of "showering us."

"It's serious because it could have been a hot coffee, it could have been a hot chocolate, it could have been something more dangerous, it could have been a weapon. Folks, what I'm always worried about is in those situations someone could get hurt."

Shannon Everett, 27, faces an assault charge and is scheduled to appear in court on July 23.

Ford has been on the hot seat for weeks over media reports of an alleged video that appears to show him smoking crack cocaine, which he has denied using.

The scandal has generated international headlines.

With a report from Jill Mahoney

Interact with The Globe