Jimmy Kimmel and Spencer Pratt Square Off in Mayoral Race Banter
On Wednesday night, talk show host Jimmy Kimmel took a jab at Los Angeles mayoral hopeful Spencer Pratt during his show. In response, Pratt, who has gained attention as a candidate, brought up one of Kimmel’s past controversies.
Pratt, 42, is in the race to replace current Mayor Karen Bass, advocating for local residents since he lost his home in the 2025 Palisades wildfire. He kicked off his campaign in January, targeting Bass for her handling of the wildfires in Los Angeles.
Kimmel humorously noted the delay in vote counting in California, suggesting that it might take some time for Democrats to realize some of their friends voted for Pratt. He mentioned, “Barring a late buzzer-beater on the ballot, it looks like Mayor Karen Bass will advance to a runoff with a former reality TV villain.”
Continuing his commentary, Kimmel pointed out that, with 60 percent of the votes already tallied, voters would have to choose between “a woman named Karen and a man named Karen” this coming November, poking fun at a stereotype surrounding demanding individuals.
Kimmel didn’t hold back, claiming, “Spencer Pratt should not be in the top two finalists for mayor. He should be the DJ for the worst New Year’s Eve party in Reno right now.” He expressed doubts about Pratt’s chances of winning, noting that he’s even filming a reality show about his mayoral bid, which raises questions about his priorities.
In retaliation, Pratt shared a screenshot of Kimmel’s past sketch where he infamously donned blackface to impersonate NBA star Karl Malone. Kimmel has since apologized for that incident, explaining that it was meant to be a celebrity impersonation and not intended to offend anyone.
Kimmel detailed his perspective on the controversy, stating, “I hired a makeup artist to make me look as much like Karl Malone as possible,” emphasizing that race was not a factor he had considered in his performance. Reflecting on those past sketches, he admitted they are embarrassing and expressed frustration that they are now being used against him.
He concluded his remarks by vowing not to be silenced by those he believes are feigning outrage, thanking the audience for the opportunity to explain his side and expressing regret for those he may have disappointed.
