Within minutes of Rob Ford’s death being announced, it was big news across Canada, the U.S. and in Europe.
And on Twitter, what was the right thing to say about the passing of one of Toronto’s most notorious mayors, the man whose scandal-plagued time in office made him an international celebrity?
Friends, fans and critics all spoke thoughtfully as news of his death broke and became a top trending topic.
Some of the earliest tweets came from people trying to figure out just how to feel about the man who was such a jumble of contradictions.
A Toronto Star reporter summed up the two sides to Rob Ford.
A CBC reporter was diplomatic.
Even people who openly didn’t much like Ford tried to set a civil tone for the day:
But Ford had and has lots of fans, who took time to post.
For some, his heart was in the right place no matter his antics.
For others, an appropriate tribute consists of an action, not words.
Parallels were drawn.
And there was no denying the addiction that accompanied Ford.
But his accomplishments were acknowledged, too.
Others had their own reasons for admiring him.
And one person couldn’t resist poking fun at Ford’s anti-bike stance.
Others wished him well in various ways.
