Mayor Tory on the fence with Kanye West headlining Pan Am closing ceremony

WATCH: Who should headline instead of Kanye? ‘I’m the last person you should ask’, jokes Tory

TORONTO – Mayor John Tory would prefer to see a Canadian artist headline the Pan Am Games closing ceremony but understands the argument why it’s beneficial to have an international star like Kanye West instead.

“He’s a big artist and he will fill seats and get the closing ceremonies on a world-wide notice,” Tory said during an interview on Global’s The Morning Show on Friday. “I guess we want attention drawn to Toronto.”

Tory mistakenly called West a “proud product” of Toronto’s music industry during a press conference on Wednesday moments after the closing ceremony performances were officially announced.

READ MORE: Is opposition to Kanye West at Pan Am closing ceremony fair?

The mayor then recently poked fun at himself by releasing a video taking the subway dressed in a baseball cap, dark sunglasses and listening to the U.S. hip-hop star’s hit single ‘Stronger’.

“I think they wondered what was going on because I am who I am and part of the fun of this was to sort of be someone a little different for a little while and poke some fun at myself. I think we succeeded in doing that,” Tory said.

When questioned on who he would have picked instead of Kanye, Tory said he would be the wrong person to ask.

“I’m a 61-year-old grandfather, executive mayor. I don’t presume to be an expert in pop culture,” he said.

Kanye West’s announced performance garnered strong reactions from both sides and even prompted two opposing petitions calling for him to go and another for him to stay.

U.S. rapper Pitbull and Canadian singer Serena Ryder will also hit the stage on July 26.