August 12, 2007
Zanta Can't Quit You, Toronto
Back in July, Zanta (a.k.a. David Zancai) told The National Post that he was done with Toronto, leaving for Brampton to be with two of his three sons. At the time, Zancai told the Post, "I can’t be me, I can’t be free, and the city of Toronto is to blame....I’m totally a prisoner in my own city. I have to get out of here." To teach the cops who he claims harass him "a lesson," Zanta decided to leave the city. Over the summer, the plan was, he said, to "keep it low-key and chill out with my boys."
Even at the time, though, Zancai hinted that his exodus wouldn't—couldn't—be permanent: "I’ll be miserable [in Brampton]," he said, "until I can come back to the city and live as Zanta again." He hoped, in July, that his fans would mobilize, rise up, and demand his return. "I want to give my fans the opportunity to stand up for me. They’ll say, 'Toronto isn’t Toronto without Zanta.' The city’s gonna call back for me. There will be a big outcry. I’m loved by millions."
A month later, however, and there hasn't been much of an outcry. Nonetheless, Zanta has been spotted all around the city: at Caribana last weekend, he was seen in typical garb—that is, his Santa hat and self-promotional writing across his chest—and on Friday night he showed up at Taste of the Danforth, where he was photographed (above) by fermata.daily, a contributor to our Flickr Pool.
So, as everyone expected, Zanta is back, if he ever really left at all. While he certainly loves Toronto—of that there is no doubt—it's whether the feeling is mutual that's still up for debate.
Photo by fermata.daily from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.
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Zanta is such a well known figure here in Toronto and his young (mostly) fans are legion, but I've seen a different side of this so called "harmless" character.
4 months ago I happened to be riding a TTC bus that he was on. Across the isle from me was a female teenager with her friend (teen male). Upon Zanta spotting her, he made a beeline to the back of the bus, where we were seated, and proceed to flirt heavily with her. After several mins. of this, he asked her age and she said "fifteen." Zanta then repeatedly asked her if she wanted to be his "girlfriend." He lowered his voice and said to her that the legal age of consent was 14 (which is incorrect …it has been raised to 16), so there wouldn't be any problems with them "dating." It ended with her agreeing to meet him the following Saturday.
I have no idea if she did in fact meet up with him or if anything transpired between them if so. But if the idea of a 39yro man wanting to "date" a 15yro girl is not some sick shit, then I don't know what is.
Too bad (for Toronto) that he didn't move to Brampton. It least then there would have been one less creep walking our (sorry Brampton) streets.
And before his "fans" jump down my throat, I WAS THERE when this took place (sitting about 3 ft away) and I heard every single word of the conversation. All 100% true.
Get a life, fella & get some help ……yes!yes!yes!
Not to nitpick, but the legal age of consent hasn't been changed to 16. It was debated, but no formal change has occurred.
From the Canadian Government's Parliament website:
"The Criminal Code does not now criminalize consensual sexual activity with or between persons 14...Even consensual activity with those under 14 but over 12 may not be an offence if the accused is under 16 and less than two years older than the complainant. The exception, of course, is anal intercourse, to which unmarried persons under 18 cannot legally consent, although both the Ontario Court of Appeal(3) and the Quebec Court of Appeal(4) have struck down the relevant section of the Criminal Code."
(Source: http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/PRBpubs/prb993-e.htm#CURRENT%20LAW(txt))
The "of course" in the paragraph quoted above is very curious.
UGH!
I thought he was banned from the TTC ages ago?
Is it possible it was a Zanta impostor?? Nah.. That's ridiculous.
Aww, you guys didn't have a Zanta Rally? Everyone in Santa hats, doing pushups? A shame.
I thought maybe this guy was harmless, at worst just being a bit obnoxious, and I thought the Zanta Rally would be a cute show of support.
But, I gotta go with guest #1. a 39 yr. old guy going after 14 yr. olds is some sick shit.
Now, Zancai isn't here to give his side, but I doubt guest #1 made that up.
That being the case, I don't think just "kicking him out" is right either. Doing push-ups with a Santa hat is eccentric, and maybe even entertaining, but wouldn't getting him some help be better than booting (Santa boot)him from city to city?
I'm not comfortable with people who are quick to say "throw the bum out". Who exactly decides who stays and who goes?
Unfortunatley, with TO's recent cuts in public services, you may find more disturbing characters ending up on your' streets as a result.
With the amount of obviously troubled and much more likely dangerous people walking freely around this city, I find the amount of negative attention paid to Zanta weird. I mean, the guys built like a brick shit house, sure, but I've never seen him do ANYTHING in anger or even aggressively.
If guest #1 is honest, well, thats pretty messed up, but we don't know if they actually met, if he was just kidding around, trying to make her blush etc. He does seem to be an agitator, in a kaufman-esque sort of way, and uit's possible he was just trying to get her to blush, etc. Again, I don't know, and thats the point.
I don't support Zanta, nor do I deride him. I just think people should ignore him if they don't like him, join in his fun if they do. I find people like the infamous "Shaky Lady" much more vile than Zanta.
Yeah, at least with Zanta, you know whether or not you want to avoid him when you see him...it's the creepy, silent types that I worry about.
At one time, people thought John List was a nice, quiet, good-Christian neighbor and father (whatever the hell that is)...
right up until he killed his family.
I have a friend who has a pit bull, it's a good dog, but because of their rep, people see it and move to the other side of the street. There's that, "it may be a good dog, but you never know" mentality. I gotta admit that I think he is harmless and kinda cool, but I also feel that if I looked at him in a way he didn't like or if he was having a bad day, I'm not 100% confident he wouldn't snap me in two for the hell of it". I think that's what unsettles people, he's maybe out there just enough where people think he could "potentially" hurt someone. But then, do we judge people for what they could potentially be capable of? Who decides that?
But if he harrasses young girls, I gotta depart with ya' on that one "brokenengine", even if he's joking...not cool. There's nothing even remotely cute about that.
I don't want to ask about "Shaky Lady"
While I obviously can't say that it's true, the story in #1 doesn't at all surprise me, because something similar happened to me and some of my (young female) friends when I was fresh out of high school. Zanta is eccentric, he's one of the city's most interesting personalities, but he sure isn't universally-loved. I think that the first commenter hinted at something interesting: I think as people get older, they find Zanta less and less cool.
Well Wanna, they way I read the story, it sounded like the girl was playing along, since she agreed to meet him. But even flirting with a 15yr old is sketchy, agreed.
Yeah, I wasn't insinuating the girl was completely innocent (if she met him, she should be grounded until she's 33.)I'm 42 and from what little I've seen, there aren't too many "innocent" 15 yr. olds (I don't even wanna know what a 39 yr. old would say to a 15 yr. old).
David, I agree he is definitely eccentric, but eccentric to pedophile is no small leap. It's ok for people to be wary or avoid him if they they don't like him, but careful in words we toss out, this is still a man with rights. As far as finding him to be less cool as people get older...You may have it. Many things we once thought of as cool or eccentric...are now, just annoying, we're old now, we just want it to be quiet: - )
Whippersnapper: - )
Sometimes I feel like Henry Fonda in "on Golden Pond". Torontoist keeps me young, lol (feel free to use THAT one!)
I've been barked at twice by Zanta while crossing the street. It was very agressive and did not feel harmless.
I love Zanta. That is all.
Well, let's not forget, this was a man who suffered a fall while on the job. He could've been any one of us, and any one of us could be him. One slip or fall the wrong way and it could be one of us donning a hat, and barking at people. So let's not judge this guy or try to decide his fate here. This could happen to anyone.
And if we can start driving the Zantas outta dodge, who's next to go? Do we want to live in a society that helps people, or one that just tosses the ball to someone else?
"OMG lol! zanta is soooo funny lol! he's like the weirdest guy evar!"
Every time I see him, there are stupid people around me saying things like this.
i think what's dangerous is that he is a pseudo-celebrity and in our celebrity obsessed culture he could use his fame to take advantage of people (i.e. young girls).
i'm allupnons.
"David, I agree he is definitely eccentric, but eccentric to pedophile is no small leap."
Careful there, eager beaver. I doubt you're qualified to run around in public forums diagnosing people with DSM deviances. That word's like tossing a hand grenade into a conversation ... it's really just not smart.
I wasn't diagnosing...the way I meant it was, it was one thing to call him eccentric, but to accuse him of being something worse (ie. pedophile) for talking to a 14 yr. old. (whether he did harrass her or not, and I don't know the conversation) without he or the girl here to defend their side is completely another thing. Sorry if that was misunderstood...I don't attempt to diagnose, I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on tv.
So, in other words, calling someone a little whacky is one thing, calling them a danger to woman or young girls is a little more serious, espeically in a public forum. So, yes, you are right, except that is not what I was trying to do.
I don't care if this guy was "dropped on this head" - the few times I've seen this guy around the city, each time he was obnoxiously hooting and hollering at women who had the unfortunate luck of walking by him. Can't we trade this ass in for the naked singing cowboy from Times Square already?
"Git me New York, Hello, NYC, this is Toronto, see? Say, whaddya say we trade you a Zanta for that Naked Cowboy, see?...NO!?! Whaddya mean no!? Why you! Dammitalltohell! Hello? Hollywood? Yea, TO here. Now look here, we'll trade you one Zanta for Andy Dick AND Kathy Griffin... Great! Uh, say pal, Can you throw in Tom Arnold and a pork sandwich on rye? I'm starved. Deal! See, I knew some city would go for it."
Hopefully, "sane, decent people" like you and I will never suffer a head injury, Elle: - )
I love Zanta. I've missed him.
David Zancai is not harmless.
He is a violent, bipolar, supressing his pedophilic tendencies.
You cannot speak with him without feeling physically threatened. Without having a fist waved in your face multiple time. Without being interrupted by rapid fire rhetoric about his delusions of grandeur. He will rescue the working man with his millions. His twice annual "parades of one" that will end with thousands cheering, and women swooning, while he performs victory pushups. Then his wife, the police, and all those other liars who call him a threat for no reason will be sorry and come around to support him.
I have a feeling we don't know the whole truth about his custody battle, but here's what I do know. I remember him on the TTC before he started wearing the Santa Hat. He was crusading for support because he had "just lost his princess to a kidnapping". His own words. People would not make eye contact with him. he chinned himself on the handrails of the 32 Eglinton West Bus every morning. He was determined that one day he would "resuce his princess".
Now 3 years later he wears the old dirty Santa hat a judge tried to make him remove during a custody hearing. When he sees a sexually appealing young woman in public, he rolls an elongated growling "RRRR" and calls out to her, "hey princess". I don't know about you but I worry about the intentions of a man that cannot differentiate between the terms of endearment he uses for his daughter and the one he uses for romantic or sexual overtures.