A controversial writer and self-proclaimed pick-up artist, known for calling for the legalization of rape, is being told his views are not welcome in Ottawa.

Daryush Valizadeh, better known as Roosh V, shares anti-feminist views on his website called Return of Kings.

On February 6th, his website says he is organizing meetups for people sharing his outlook in cities across the world.

Mayor Watson is one of many city mayors who reacted online. He tweeted ‘your pro-rape, misogynistic, homophobic garbage is not welcome in Ottawa.”

“This kind of garbage isn’t acceptable, to be promoting rape as something that should be legalized, attacking gay and lesbians and women, it really is quite disgusting,” Watson said.

Roosh V mocked city mayors with this response on Twitter: “I laugh at all these raging mayors. A mayor is a failed businessman who is a slave to real estate developers. They get no respect from me.”

“This is a pretty outrageous and outlandish individual,” Watson said. “But you have to be firm and ensure individuals know that this kind of behaviour is not acceptable in a tolerant, caring, and progressive city like Ottawa.”

On his website, Roosh V tells his followers to gather inside of the doors at the Arts Court Building for the meeting on the 6th. 

One city councillor said that will not be an option.

“We worked with our city operations to make sure that they don’t have access to facilities,” said Councillor Mathieu Fleury. “They are discriminating, they have hate speeches, that’s not what we want to promote.”

Fleury said he also reached out to the University of Ottawa, the BIA, and the Shaw Centre to ask them not to host any meetings for the group.