Spencer Pratt Takes Aim at Mayor Karen Bass

Spencer Pratt, previously known as the “villain” from MTV’s “The Hills,” is once again embracing his controversial image, criticizing Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for her outreach to a frustrated group of voters.

Now running for mayor himself, Pratt responded to questions about his qualifications to manage a city by flipping the script on the current administration. He pointedly remarked, “It was supposed to be a joke, but that was 20 years ago,” during a Fox 11 interview when asked about his reality TV past and its potential impact on his campaign.

Then he escalated things further, saying, “If you look at what Karen Bass was doing back then, she was in Cuba learning how to make bombs that later bombed the Capitol.”

Bass, who has a history of activism, traveled to Cuba multiple times in the 1970s, often working with a pro-Cuban revolutionary group. In 2020, she shared a nostalgic post from a 1973 trip to Cuba while with President Obama in 2016.

Polls, such as one from the Berkeley Institute of Government and the Los Angeles Times, indicate that Bass still holds a lead with about 25% of voter support, though many residents express dissatisfaction with her performance. Other contenders, including City Councilor Nitya Raman and Platte City Councilman, follow closely behind with 17% and 14%, respectively. Notably, around 25% of voters remain undecided.

Pratt views this ambiguity as an opportunity, stating, “For me, it’s not undecided. They know they don’t want Karen Bass. They’re just waiting for my message, which is a change for Los Angeles.”

He argues that there’s urgency in reaching out to these voters, suggesting a clear departure from the current state of affairs. His campaign has gained traction amid rising issues like homelessness, inflation, public safety concerns, and criticisms of the city’s handling of the wildfire crisis.

Historically, Los Angeles mayors usually secure reelection, with the last notable exception being James Hahn’s defeat in 2005. Nevertheless, the current political landscape seems ripe for new voices, particularly from right-wing candidates like Pratt. It’s shaping up to be an unpredictable race.