Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass sparked outrage after accusing Palisades Hearth sufferer Spencer Pratt of “exploiting the grief” of wildfire victims in his marketing campaign to unseat her.
Bass, who has been dropping floor to Pratt within the lead-up to the mayoral election, made the extraordinary declare throughout an interview with MeidasTouch.
“Effectively, truthfully, earlier than this, I had by no means heard of Spencer Pratt,” she mentioned of the previous actuality TV star.
“However the factor I’m involved about is that I really feel like he’s exploiting the grief of individuals within the Palisades. And I believe that’s reprehensible. He’s about his personal superstar.”
Critics instantly seized on the mayor’s feedback, calling her out for attacking a wildfire sufferer.
“Exploiting grief? HE LOST EVERYTHING ALONG WITH FAMILY,” one commenter wrote on X.
“The hearth burned 36,000 acres in Los Angeles County, destroyed or broken greater than 10,000 buildings, displaced tens of 1000’s of residents and claimed at the least 10 lives. However she’s bent out of form about Pratt drawing consideration to it as a result of they ran out of water,” one other added.
“My complete f—ing neighborhood burned down. There was a hearth hydrant throughout the road from our home. Exploit away, Spencer. This idiot has no enterprise in authorities,” a 3rd mentioned.
Even Trump administration official Richard Grenell chimed in.
“Profession politician is offended that somebody new is working. She’s extremely condescending. She thinks she is owed reelection,” he wrote on X.
Others thought Bass shouldn’t concern herself with Pratt when she was overseeing through the catastrophe.
“Simply the other, it’s since you dealt with our fires so miserably that Pratt got here ahead to proper your wrongs,” one X person commented.
“Lady you have been in Ghana through the Palisades fireplace return to mattress,” one other added.
“What’s hilarious is that when she insults or gaslights him, she’s mainly doing the identical to each sufferer of the Palisades fires,” a 3rd wrote. “And her declare that she had no concept who he was is wild…he was one of the vital outspoken victims. It simply makes her appear out of contact and detached.”
Pratt responded to Bass’ putdowns on Saturday morning, saying he would higher serve LA as mayor.
“Karen at all times likes to speak about HER expertise and by no means YOUR expertise in her metropolis…stepping over homeless drug addicts having your, enterprise tagged up each night time, no road lights,” he wrote on X.
“If she is so skilled with governance, why is she so dangerous at governance? What does that say about all of her illustrious expertise? I truly care extra about YOUR each day expertise in LA. I’ve all of the expertise that I want. I’ve skilled the implications of Karen Bass’ failed management. All of us have. She must step apart.”
Bass has been broadly criticized for her response to January 2025 wildfires, which prompted billions in injury and killed a number of folks. Pratt misplaced his house within the fireplace and lives in Airstream trailer on the burned-out lot — one thing he highlighted in a current viral marketing campaign advert.
“That is the place Mayor Bass lives. You discover one thing?” Pratt says within the 30-second clip, gesturing in direction of the Getty Home, Bass’ bucolic Tudor-style residence in Windsor Sq., which is mayor’s official residence.
“They let my house burn down. I do know the implications of failed management,” he added, promising to usher in a brand new “Golden Age” in LA.
In February, Bass introduced a bunch of Palisades survivors to Sacramento for a gathering with legislators, later giving herself credit score for bringing “the precise folks to the desk to get outcomes.”
“We’re going to remain united with Palisades till all people is again house,” she mentioned.
The California Publish contacted Bass’ workplace for remark.
