Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is facing a fierce backlash after accusing rival candidate Spencer Pratt of 'exploiting the grief' of wildfire victims.
The extraordinary attack came during an interview in which Bass dismissed Pratt's rising profile while questioning his motives.
'Well, honestly, before this, I had never heard of Spencer Pratt,' Bass said. 'The thing I am concerned and feel about him is that I feel like he's exploiting the grief of people in the Palisades. And I think that's reprehensible. He is about his own celebrity.'
Her comments, delivered as she defended her leadership during the catastrophic 2025 wildfires, immediately triggered outrage - particularly because Pratt himself is among those who lost everything in the blaze.
The Palisades fire, one of the worst disasters in Los Angeles history, scorched tens of thousands of acres, destroyed thousands of structures and displaced entire communities.
Pratt's own home was reduced to rubble, forcing him, his wife Heidi Montag and their children to live in a trailer on the charred remains of their property.
Critics seized on that reality, accusing Bass of attacking a victim rather than addressing the grievances that have fueled Pratt's insurgent campaign.
Online backlash was swift and unforgiving. One user wrote: 'Exploiting grief? He lost everything along with family.'
Karen Bass accused Spencer Pratt of 'exploiting the grief' of Palisades wildfire victims during an interview. Bass said she had 'never heard' of Pratt before his emergence in the mayoral race
Pratt pictured in front of his destroyed home. The loss inspired him to run for mayor of LA
The Palisades fire , one of the worst disasters in Los Angeles history, scorched tens of thousands of acres, destroyed thousands of structures and displaced entire communities
Pratt responded by accusing Bass of focusing on 'HER experience' instead of residents' experiences. He said he has 'experienced the consequences' of Bass' leadership firsthand
Another pointed to the scale of devastation, arguing the mayor appeared more concerned about political optics than the human toll of the fires.
Prominent political figures also weighed in. Diplomat Richard Grenell criticized Bass on social media, writing: 'Career politician is offended that someone new is running. She's incredibly condescending. She thinks she is owed reelection.'
Bass, for her part, defended her record in the same interview, emphasizing her experience and the city's recovery efforts.
She pointed to permitting progress and rebuilding timelines.
'We have issued over 2600 permits… we have 400 plus homes that are currently under construction… people are getting ready to move in in the summer.'
She also framed the disaster as unprecedented, calling it 'the worst natural disaster that we experienced in our city,' while attributing the carnage to changing climate patterns and extreme weather conditions.
Bass suggested Pratt lacked a basic understanding of governance, saying he 'could benefit by a basic civics course,' arguing she had not seen 'a proposal for a solution or a remedy' from him.
Pratt fired back within hours, turning Bass' attack into a rallying cry for his campaign.
Pratt has used his wildfire loss as a central theme in his mayoral campaign. In a campaign ad, Pratt criticized conditions in Los Angeles including homelessness and infrastructure issues
Pratt has emerged as a third option and is rising in popularity. He still consistently polls below Bass and Raman
Online users were quick to take Bass to task and explain why Pratt felt the way he did
Spencer Pratt has been living in a trailer after fire burnt his home to the ground. He is pictured with wife Heidi Montag
Pratt, was captured in photos as he watched the rapidly advancing fire move toward his Palisades home last year
The devastating Pacific Palisades fire destroyed 7,000 homes and businesses in what was one of LA's most exclusive suburbs, killing 12 people and displacing nearly 100,000 residents
Beachfront homes along Pacific Coast Highway were destroyed in the blaze; pictured in January 2025. The cost of the wildfire has been put at $28 billion
'Karen always likes to talk about HER experience and never YOUR experience in her city,' he wrote on social media.
'I actually care more about YOUR daily experience in LA… I have experienced the consequences of Karen Bass' failed leadership. All of us have.
'She needs to step aside.'
The clash underscores a broader political shift unfolding in Los Angeles ahead of the June 2 mayoral primary - a race that has grown increasingly unpredictable as outsider candidates gain traction.
Pratt, once known primarily for his role on The Hills, has repositioned himself as a populist challenger, using his personal loss in the fires as both testimony and political ammunition.
In a widely circulated campaign ad, he stands before the mayor's official residence and declares: 'They let my home burn down. I know the consequences of failed leadership.'
His campaign has also targeted both Bass and City Councilmember Nithya Raman over issues ranging from wildfire response to homelessness, sometimes controversially.
Through a campaign spokesperson, Raman condemned Pratt for filming in front of her home, saying it felt 'unnecessary and reckless'
Raman has been against efforts to tighten restrictions on homeless encampments. In April, she voted against a measure to add an anti-camping zone in the Rose Avenue area of Venice
The primary for the Los Angeles mayoral race is scheduled for June 2. Bass is generally ahead in most polls, though her lead is tenuous and threatened by Raman
Raman condemned Pratt for filming outside her home for the ad, calling the move 'unnecessary and reckless,' while Pratt responded by saying her reaction 'validat[ed] the entire premise of our commercial.'
Bass, the incumbent, has been under sustained scrutiny over her handling of the wildfires, including questions about preparedness and response times.
Meanwhile, Raman has emerged as a strong contender in polling, with Pratt positioning himself as a disruptive third force fueled by public anger.