Spencer Pratt posted a video featuring his mother, Janet Pratt, as she broke down in tears during a visit to the site where his Palisades home once stood.
This video, shared on X, is titled “Change the Channel” and responds to remarks made by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who accused Pratt of “exploiting the grief” of wildfire victims.
The clip starts with Bass commenting in an interview, stating, “I feel like he’s taking advantage of the grief of the people in the Palisades area. And I think that’s reprehensible. He’s talking about his own celebrity. He’s now famous again.”
Following this, the video shifts to a black-and-white segment showing Janet at the remains of their home, where the family is now living in an Airstream trailer as they try to rebuild their lives.
Janet tells Spencer, “I feel like all I can do is cry. I really wish I had sold my land and bought a house in Santa Monica, Montana. The Palisades are really depressing.”
To comfort her, Spencer replies, “It’s easier to sell a house built on a lot than just the lot.” He adds, “You have a much better chance of buying a new, empty house than that dirty lot,” as Janet continues to wipe her tears.
“The Palisades won’t be back for a long time,” she concedes, affirming her son’s sentiment. “It’s very depressing. I have to pull myself together.”
Throughout the video, Spencer displays warmth and compassion toward his emotionally struggling mother.
After posting it on social media, he received a wave of supportive responses from viewers.
One commenter remarked, “Karen Bass is the bad guy. You can’t convince me otherwise. Spencer has to win.”
Another noted, “I can’t think of a more ungrateful way to ‘promote one’s celebrity’ than by running for mayor of Los Angeles. It takes courage to step into this arena. And it feels like gaslighting a status quo that is responsible for the sadness and accusing those who shine a light on it of exploitation.”
A third individual commented, “How heartbreaking. I will continue to pray for you, your family and the residents. I pray that God continues to use you to make a difference and to shine your light. I pray for peace, comfort and recovery.”
Following the backlash against Bass’s remarks, critics quickly pointed out that her comments seemed to dismiss the plight of wildfire victims. One person on X stated, “Taking advantage of the grief? He lost everything along with his family.”
Another pointed out, “This fire has burned 36,000 acres in Los Angeles County, destroyed or damaged more than 10,000 buildings, displaced tens of thousands of residents, and claimed at least 10 lives. But she is upset that Pratt drew attention to the fire because there was no water.”
In response to the wildfires in January 2025, which caused billions in damage and fatalities, Bass faced significant criticism for her handling of the situation. Pratt, having lost his home, is currently residing in a mobile home on the site, which he highlighted in a recent viral campaign advertisement.
Inquiries for further comments were made to both Spenser Pratt and Karen Bass’ representatives.
