International headlines were abuzz with the latest Rob Ford scandal after the Toronto mayor announced he was taking a break from politics to get help for substance abuse.
Ford headlines topped the webpages of industry giants such as the Associated Press, BBC, CNN and NBC almost immediately after local news outlets reported the existence of another video allegedly showing the mayor smoking crack.
"Toronto mayor says he'll take leave, seek help," the Associated Press titled its Ford story.
"Toronto Mayor Rob Ford 'to get help for substance abuse,'" British broadcaster BBC wrote.
CNN posted its story "Mayor Rob Ford takes break from campaign to seek help for alcohol abuse," highlighting what the site called the mayor's fall from grace.
The Los Angeles Times and New York Times used similar headlines, drawing attention to the mayor's admission of alcohol abuse.
Other news organizations were less subtle.
"Cracked Up? Toronto Mayor Rob Ford Steps Aside as New Photo Emerges," a headline on NBC read.
France-based news organization Agence France-Presse posted "Toronto crack mayor takes a break for rehab."
Business Insider, based in New York, wrote "There's ANOTHER Video Of Rob Ford Allegedly Smoking Crack-Cocaine."
The co-hosts on the daytime show “The View,” which airs in Canada on CTV, also chimed in on the latest scandal involving Ford.
Pointing to Ford's approval that has hovered around 40 per cent, Sherri Shepherd asked, "Who's running against Rob Ford that Canadians are going, we still believe a crack head can lead this (city)?"
Whoopi Goldberg added: "Apparently he’s done a lot of great stuff. Torontonians are saying 'we know, but he is in fact doing his job.'"
Headlines about the mayor even rubbed shoulders with celebrity news.
Among stories about celebrity birthdays and leaked nude photos, gossip site TMZ ran the headline "Toronto's 'Crack Mayor' Going to Rehab After Latest Drunken Rant."
Gawker, a site known for news, video and gossip, posted two Ford stories: "Justin Bieber Reportedly Taunted Rob Ford About Crack at Toronto Club," and "Another Rob Ford Crack Video Is For Sale. Here Are the Stills."
The U.S. website reported last May on the existence of a video appearing to show the mayor smoking crack, and Gawker launched a crowd-funding campaign to try to raise $200,000 to buy the video. The campaign reached its target, but the site was unable to get in touch with the owners of the video and the money was donated to charities.
And Jimmy Kimmel, host of ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and self-described Ford fan, took to social media with his thoughts on Ford's decision to step down.
"All jokes aside, I hope (Ford) really does get the help he obviously needs," Kimmel wrote on Twitter.
