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Spencer Pratt vs Karen Bass: LA Mayor under fire for targeting ‘The Hills’ star for Palisades fire; row explained
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faced online backlash after she suggested Spencer Pratt was exploiting Palisades fire victims. Pratt's house was destroyed in the Palisades fire earlier this year, which he has used as a campaign issue against Bass. The article also reports social media posts alleging a sequence of related events and responses from supporters and critics.
Why It Matters
The clash illustrates how disaster-related politics and social-media discourse can influence a local election and shape public perception of candidates.
Timeline
6 Events
Bass comments on MSNOW about Spencer Pratt exploiting Palisades fire victims
May 6, 2026
During an appearance on MSNOW with Katie Phang, Mayor Karen Bass said she had never heard of Spencer Pratt before, but expressed concern that Pratt was exploiting the grief of Palisades fire victims, calling that behavior reprehensible.
Spencer Pratt's house destroyed in Palisades fire earlier this year
May 2026
The article notes Pratt's house was destroyed in the Palisades fire earlier this year as he has made the fire a major issue in his campaign against Bass.
Palileses fire allegedly reignited by Santa Ana winds on January 7; after-action report allegedly manipulated
January 7, 2026
The online claim stated that the Palisades fire was reignited by Santa Ana winds on January 7 and that the Los Angeles Fire Department's after-action report was manipulated.
Bass reportedly left for Ghana on January 4
January 4, 2026
The same social media claim asserted that Karen Bass left for Ghana on January 4.
Lachman Fire claimed to have been tended to on January 2
January 2, 2026
A social media claim asserted that the Lachman Fire Pratt allegedly set was tended to on January 2, days before the Palisades Fire began.
Palisades fire victims referenced as the 2024 Palisades fire
2024
The article references victims of the Palisades fire described as the 2024 Palisades fire.