Pratt Attacks Bass in LA Mayor Race

Spencer Pratt, a reality TV star turned Los Angeles mayoral candidate, has launched an AI-generated attack ad targeting incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and other California politicians. The video, shared by filmmaker Charles Curran and reposted by Pratt on X, portrays him as a Batman-inspired vigilante taking on Bass, Governor Gavin Newsom, and former Vice President Kamala Harris.

The ad shows the politicians seated on thrones while the city burns and residents beg for help. Pratt, dressed in a Batman suit, swoops in to save the day by throwing tomatoes at the politicians before an end credits screen declares: 'LA is worth saving.' The video has garnered over 4.1 million views and praise from conservative influencers like former Florida Governor Jeb Bush.

Pratt launched his campaign for mayor in January after Bass faced backlash for her response to the LA wildfires, which destroyed more than 6,800 structures across Southern California. Pratt and his wife Heidi Montag lost their home in the blazes. Despite previously being best known for his stint on MTV's The Hills, Pratt has emerged as a dark horse in the mayoral race.

Bass accused Pratt of capitalizing on the grief of wildfire victims, stating that she had never heard of him before his campaign. 'The thing I am concerned and feel about him is that I feel like he's exploiting the grief of people in the Palisades,' Bass said during an interview with MeidasTouch. She also suggested Pratt lacked a basic understanding of governance.

Pratt fired back at Bass, turning her attack into a rallying cry for his campaign. 'Karen always likes to talk about HER experience and never YOUR experience in her city,' he wrote on social media. He has repositioned himself as a populist challenger, using his personal loss in the fires as both testimony and political ammunition.

In another widely circulated campaign ad, Pratt argued that neither Bass nor City Councilwoman Nithya Raman has to contend with the homelessness crisis while living in their cushy neighborhoods. The ad then cut to Pratt walking alongside a road with numerous homeless encampments on the sidewalk. 'They let my home burn down. I know the consequences of failed leadership,' he added.

Raman condemned Pratt for filming outside her home for the ad, calling the move 'unnecessary and reckless.' Pratt responded by saying her reaction validated the entire premise of his commercial. The clash underscores a broader political shift unfolding in Los Angeles ahead of the June 2 mayoral primary.

Pratt has received donations from countless prominent celebrities, including former Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and producers Doug Reinhardt and Jeff Jenkins. He has also out-fundraised Bass since January, with a recent poll showing him trailing her 25% to 11%. A third candidate, Councilwoman Nithya Raman, polled at 9%. Voters in LA will head to the polls on June 2nd to cast their votes for mayor.