Roosh V not welcome in Toronto, Mayor John Tory says

Toronto Mayor John Tory says he doesn't want the "hate speech" of controversial U.S. blogger and authorRooshV in the city, and is urgingorganizers to cancel the controversial pickup artist'sspeaking event setfor Saturday.

"I am calling on those hosting this tour to do the right thing cancel this show," Tory tweeted Monday. In another tweet, Tory said "@rooshv and his hate speech have no place in our city and should have no platform here either."

Toronto Coun.andTwitter star Norm Kelly also said Roosh is unwelcome,and urged Toronto venue owners to refuse to host him, saying his "takeon life is worthless garbage masquerading as provocative insight."

RooshV,whose real name is Daryush Valizadeh, has attracted outrage through his blog posts, including oneadvocating that rape be made legal inside a private home, and another suggesting that menseek out women with eating disorders.

Through his blog and speaking appearances,Valizadeh advisesmen on the best methods to convince womento have sex with them. He is the author ofBang, a book he describesas a "textbook for picking up girls."

He also runs the website Return of Kings, which describes itself as an online forum "meant for a small but vocal collection of men in America today who believe men should be masculine and women should be feminine."

His appearance last weekend in Montreal drew protests and a petition of more than 40,000 signaturesarguing that he should not be allowed to cross the border into Canada.His originalconference venue was cancelled, he had abeer thrown in his face, and he was named and shamed while having a coffee on St-Denis.

His appearance was also condemned by Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre.

'We come to Toronto as righteous victors'

Still, the controversy appears to have emboldenedValizadeh.

"Hardened from battle in Montreal, we come to Toronto as righteous victors," he tweeted. "We won't stand down, we won't apologize."

He also responded directly to Tory's tweets about him, saying "my speech doesn't promote violence, harassment, or hate against any group. You were lied to about me."

Valizadehsays all the talk and media coverage ended up giving him a big spike in online searches.

Haley Firkser, a feminist who helped organize the Montreal protests against RooshV's appearance there, appeared on CBC Radio's Metro Morning show Tuesday.

Some argue Roosh V only gains from the protests and media coverage, butFirkser said the attention helps spurhealthy debate and awareness about women's issues.

"Some people say it benefits him, but if you look at the petition,there are more than 45,000 who signed up," she said."That's 45,000 people who are learning about this who hopefully are taking part in discourse surrounding consent."

The Montreal talkand onein Toronto on Saturdayare the final dates of a six-city tour billed as a "discussion of the problems that Western men face today and how to solve them."

The location ofValizadeh'sToronto appearance has not been disclosed. There are reportsit will be revealed on Friday.