Reality TV personality Spencer Pratt launched a bid for Los Angeles mayor at an event marking one year since the Palisades Fire—and celebrities immediately began taking sides. Former “The Hills” costars and other stars voiced support, while critics including D
Spencer Pratt stepped into the spotlight for a new kind of campaign on the same streets Los Angeles residents still remember with a heavy sense of time passing. The reality television personality launched his run for mayor at an event marking one year since the Palisades Fire.
A year after the fire, and just ahead of the June 2 election, Pratt’s political bid has turned into something bigger than a candidate rollout. It has also become a public spectacle—Hollywood divided between those who believe he’s ready for real change and those who say he’s not qualified to lead.
Pratt, 42, is running as a Republican and is aiming to unseat incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in the June 2 election. To win outright, a candidate needs a majority of the votes. If nobody reaches that threshold, the two candidates with the most votes will face each other in the November general election.
For fans of Pratt’s earlier life in reality TV, the campaign has felt like a homecoming. Several of his former “The Hills” costars publicly backed his mayoral bid, arguing he brings a sharper edge than traditional politics.
Brody Jenner, Pratt’s longtime friend, posted an Instagram statement defending the candidacy after Pratt announced his run in January. Jenner wrote that Pratt is “one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. ” adding. “Spencer isn’t afraid to think differently or speak up. and that’s exactly what this city needs.” He said Pratt has his vote because “at the very least. he has the backbone to stand up to career politicians who’ve done little to actually move Los Angeles forward.”.
Kristin Cavallari also signaled support. During an April appearance on “Watch What Happens Live,” she called Pratt “very well-spoken.” “I’m here for it. And I honestly could see him winning. People in California really are excited about him,” she said.
Audrina Patridge, an ex-castmate, told Us Weekly earlier this month that she is “rooting for” Pratt. “I’m actually excited. He impressed me. ” she said. adding that Pratt “is very intelligent.” She continued. “I think that he would make a lot of change to L.A. and he would follow through with what he said.”.
But the cheering hasn’t been one-sided. Other celebrity voices have taken Pratt’s entry into politics as a chance to push back—publicly and sharply.
Drew Carey, host of “The Price Is Right,” criticized Pratt’s candidacy in an expletive-laced Threads post on May 22. Carey wrote, “I understand being angry/unsatisfied, but at least get behind someone competent and not some serial scammer without a soul or moral compass.”
Pratt answered that criticism on May 25 in a post on X. He shared a screenshot of a 2002 email referencing a Drew Carey. which is included in the Department of Justice’s investigative files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. “Isn’t it weird how the two comedians histrionically lashing out against me are both in the ‘Epstein files’?. What are the odds?” Pratt wrote.
Chelsea Handler brought her own skepticism into the debate in a May 15 Instagram video. In it, she compared Pratt to President Donald Trump and criticized him as an illegitimate candidate. “This is a reminder that a straight. white male. former reality star that has no previous experience in government should not be a legitimate political candidate. ” Handler said. while Pratt’s photos appeared on the screen. She added, “Have we learned anything yet?” as she showed a photo of Trump.
Pratt responded again on X, including a video of comedian Shane Gillis discussing how Handler once said she had dinner with Epstein. “Most of you have probably never heard of Chelsea Handler, so here’s an introduction!” Pratt wrote.
Even fellow reality star Lisa Rinna struck a supportive-but-unconvinced tone. The former star of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” told Variety she thinks Pratt is “amazing. ” but she doesn’t believe he’s the right fit for mayor. “I’m sorry. I love him, but we’ve already done that, we’re not going to do that again,” she said. “I’m a reality person. You wouldn’t want me as mayor,” Rinna added.
The contrast across these responses is hard to miss: one side argues that Pratt’s visibility is exactly what Los Angeles needs. while the other side insists the leap into government is reckless without experience. With June 2 approaching—and with the election rules hinging on whether anyone wins a majority—those competing visions of who gets to lead are now playing out as an unusually public contest.
And for Pratt, the campaign has not only begun in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire—it has begun under a national spotlight, with every new post, endorsement, or dismissal turned into fresh momentum for supporters and fresh fuel for critics.
Spencer Pratt Los Angeles mayor election Karen Bass June 2 election Palisades Fire Brody Jenner Kristin Cavallari Audrina Patridge Drew Carey Chelsea Handler Lisa Rinna U.S. politics celebrity endorsements