Justin Trudeau is refusing to “engage” with Sun Media saying a rant by one of its hosts was “unacceptable and beyond the bounds of civil discourse.” Trudeau is the leader of the federal Liberal Party and son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and his wife, Margaret.
Host Ezra Levant took exception to a photograph in which Trudeau is seen kissing a bride saying Trudeau’s team capitalized on the moment “to make him look virile and sexy.” Levant went on to liken him to a medieval nobleman riding though the estate to deflower whatever maidens he wanted. He called Trudeau’s parents promiscuous and engaged in name-calling.
‘Personal attack was offensive’
Trudeau’s director of communications said Trudeau asked the bride’s permission before the kiss and she consented. She added Sun Media “”crossed the line by airing a personal attack on the Trudeau family that was offensive and breached any reasonable measure of editorial integrity.” The statement asks for “an appropriate response.”
Levant twice before found to have violated broadcasting codes
Levant has twice been upbraided by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, once in 2011 for using a Spanish profanity in an on-air interview with a Chiquita executive and a year later for calling Roma people in Canada “swindlers” and casting aspersions on them based on ethnic stereotypes. In that case, Sun Media apologized unreservedly and said the rant “was inappropriate and should not have gone to air.” However there was no action to remove Levant.
Some reporters have complained about Trudeau’s decision to not deal with any reporters from Sun Media but the leader says he is not backing down.
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