Nithya Raman’s campaign is under scrutiny for allegedly using potentially pirated footage in an attack advertisement that targets Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
This ad criticizes Bass over the delayed LAX Automated People Mover project and incorporates clips from the documentary “You Can See Everything.” Interestingly, these clips aren’t part of the film’s official trailer or any popular teasers.
The advertisement combines Bass’s comments on the airport train with a segment from the documentary where Nathan Fielder asks Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of Theranos, if her device “can run any test” or is truly “capable” of running any test.
In the ad, Bass asserts, “The people mover is there you can see it,” but then she adds, “No, I’m saying it’s in its testing phase.”
While Raman’s campaign attributed Bass’s remarks to KNX News, they did not clarify how they obtained the movie footage.
The unconventional use of this footage caught attention on social media, including remarks from former candidate Spencer Pratt. He raised concerns about whether Raman’s campaign had employed unauthorized footage recorded in theaters.
Pratt questioned, “Wait a second… did the lady who wants to represent Hollywood… rip in-theater camcorder footage of a theatrical release film for a campaign ad? WTF.” His comments highlight the potential legal issues surrounding the use of such clips without permission, raising questions about copyright infringement and movie theater piracy. However, there’s no clear evidence yet showing who recorded the footage or if the campaign had received the proper permissions.
Moreover, this controversy comes at a time when Bass faces criticism for the ongoing delays of the LAX people mover, which was initially scheduled to launch in 2023 but has now been pushed back to at least February 5, 2027.
The 2.25-mile development, which has a staggering budget of $3.34 billion, has encountered various setbacks, including technical difficulties, disputes among city agencies, and continuing legal disputes.
As the two candidates gear up for the runoff on Tuesday, Pratt, who was eliminated in the primaries, has been taking jabs from the sidelines. According to a UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll released on October 28, the race between Bass and Raman is tight, with both candidates holding 40% support, while 19% of voters remain undecided.
