TORONTO - Rob Ford denies that the target of his rant in a video in which he threatens to kill someone was his sister's ex-boyfriend.

Ford is one of the targets of a lawsuit filed by Scott MacIntyre, who alleges the mayor conspired to have him attacked in jail to prevent his illicit behaviours from becoming publicly known.

In a statement of defence filed Wednesday, Ford says the footage was recorded without his consent or knowledge and shows him "discussing and imitating, as a joke, the pre-match rant of a professional wrestler."

He says the private conversation happened at a friend's home in anticipation of a charity event in 2013 that would pit Ford against a "well-known, retired professional wrestler."

Ford faced off in an arm-wrestling match with Hulk Hogan that summer.

The mayor previously said he was drunk at the time and called the incident an embarrassing mistake, but he wouldn't name the target of his rage.

"The defendant is mimicking for the purpose of joking with friends at a private gathering (admittedly poorly) that professional wrestler in the portions of the video referenced by the plaintiff," the document reads.

EXCERPTS FROM ROB FORD'S STATEMENT OF DEFENCE IN JAILHOUSE BEATING LAWSUIT

TORONTO - Rob Ford is facing a lawsuit from his sister's ex-boyfriend Scott MacIntyre, who alleges the mayor arranged to have him beaten in jail. Ford filed his statement of defence Wednesday. Here are some excerpts from the document obtained by The Canadian Press:

"The allegations in the statement of claim of a purported conspiracy somehow orchestrated by this defendant, involving not only the other personal defendants but also numerous administrative personnel of a correctional facility, and that this defendant was somehow capable of manipulating the operation of such a correctional facility to the extent alleged in the statement of claim, is beyond any rational possibility or air of reality. The allegations in the statement of claim are patently absurd on their face."

"The claim against this defendant knowingly lacks merit, is frivolous and vexatious, is an abuse of the process of this honourable court, and is utterly irresponsible being designed for the collateral and improper purpose of maximizing publicity and notoriety."

"The defendant denies that the purported surreptitious video pled by the plaintiff evidences either directly or indirectly a conspiracy to threaten or cause harm to the plaintiff, and holds the plaintiff to the strict proof thereof."

"To the best of this defendant's knowledge the video depicts snippets of a private social gathering in a private residence and relates to a private, jocular discussion in the supposed privacy of a friend's home where this defendant was discussing and imitating as a joke, the pre-match rant of a professional wrestler."

News from © The Canadian Press, 2014