Los Angeles mayoral candidate and reality TV star Spencer Pratt pushed back after reports claimed he had been staying at one of the city’s most expensive hotels despite previously saying he was living in an Airstream trailer after losing his home in the Los Angeles fires.
Pratt had spent more than a month staying at the Hotel Bel-Air, according to TMZ. Pratt responded to the criticism on social media, blaming incumbent mayoral candidate Karen Bass for the destruction caused by the fires.
“Hey guys, why don’t they wanna talk about why I need a hotel in the first place?” Pratt wrote in a statement on social media. “Karen Bass let my home burn down. Also 6,000 of my neighbors. NBD.”
He also accused critics of targeting his personal life instead of his campaign platform.
“Funny how they never attack my policy ideas,” Pratt said. “They can only try to assassinate your character. They don’t wanna talk about my debate masterclass a week ago, they wanna talk about a reality show from a lifetime ago. That’s because they want the continued decline of the city. They are locked in an ideological death spiral and can’t shake it. Come at my policies or go sit back down on the back bench. I’m in the arena, son.”
Pratt, a registered Republican and one of five major contenders heading into the June 2 primary, drew attention during last week’s mayoral debate after repeatedly attacking Bass over her handling of the 2025 wildfires. His performance fueled Republican hopes of mounting a competitive challenge in heavily Democratic Los Angeles.
In recent months, Pratt has sharply criticized Bass over the city’s response to the fires, which killed 31 people, destroyed thousands of structures, and caused billions of dollars in damage. Bass has also faced scrutiny after reports alleged her office sought edits to an official report on the Palisades fire to soften criticism of the city’s emergency response.
KAREN BASS KEEPS LEAD IN LA MAYORAL RACE AFTER FIERY DEBATE
Her administration has additionally been questioned over depleted water reservoirs during the crisis, budget cuts to the Los Angeles Fire Department before the fires broke out, and the slow pace of rebuilding efforts in affected communities.
Despite the criticism, recent polling suggests Bass remains the front-runner in the race. An Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics survey found Bass leading with 30% support, followed by Pratt at 22% and Councilwoman Nithya Raman at 19%.