You thought local politics couldn't get more surreal. Then 2026 arrived, and former reality television villain Spencer Pratt emerged as a serious contender for mayor of Los Angeles. Yes, the same guy from The Hills who spent the late 2000s picking fights on MTV is currently breathing down the neck of incumbent Mayor Karen Bass ahead of the June 2 primary.
Some residents see him as a radical change agent. Others view it as an absolute farce. Count legendary comedian and The Price Is Right host Drew Carey heavily in the second camp.
Carey didn't just express mild disagreement. He completely unloaded on Pratt in a scathing Threads post on May 22, explicitly calling him a "serial scammer without a soul or moral compass."
The Drew Carey Takedown
Carey didn't mince words. The 68-year-old game show host and former U.S. Marine used his platform to issue a blunt warning to voters who are frustrated with the current state of Los Angeles.
"Anyone who votes for, or endorses Spencer Prattfall for Mayor of LA needs to get their head out of their ass," Carey wrote.
He didn't stop there. While Carey acknowledged that citizens have plenty of valid reasons to feel angry or unsatisfied with local leadership, he begged them to find a viable alternative. "At least get behind someone competent," Carey added, before finishing his post with a definitive, "F*** this guy already."
It's a stark reminder that the stakes in local municipal elections are incredibly high. For Carey, elevating a former reality star known for orchestrating media stunts to the highest office in the city isn't just a bad political move. It's dangerous.
From The Hills to City Hall
How did a guy famous for bleaching his beard and buying millions of dollars worth of healing crystals end up in a high-profile political race?
The shift happened after tragedy struck. Pratt and his wife, Heidi Montag, lost their home in the devastating 2025 Palisades wildfire. The disaster changed everything for him. Running as a registered Republican, Pratt launched his mayoral campaign at a rally held on the one-year anniversary of the fire.
During an appearance on Fox & Friends, Pratt claimed he never had political ambitions until he looked closer at how city officials handled the disaster. He openly accused current leadership of "criminal negligence" and joined a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles.
Pratt is tapping into real anger. The Palisades fire left 12 people dead and destroyed countless homes. On a recent episode of the Creators Think podcast hosted by Andy Bachman, Pratt leveled heavy accusations against Mayor Karen Bass. He alleged that her administration worked behind the scenes with a Hollywood crisis public relations firm to alter official reports regarding the disaster response.
The Real Danger of Celebrity Protest Votes
Anger is a powerful political tool, and Pratt knows exactly how to wield it. He has been performing for cameras for two decades. He knows how to secure airtime, grab headlines, and dominate social media algorithms.
But Carey's main argument cuts right to the heart of why protest votes can backfire. Local government handles complex logistical networks. It manages billions of dollars in budgets, oversees public transit, handles homelessness strategies, and coordinates massive emergency services. Treating a mayoral election like a reality TV viewer vote ignores the reality of governance.
During a recent televised debate alongside Bass and councilmember Nithya Raman, Pratt shrugged off his complete lack of political experience. He tried to draw a parallel to past political outsiders. "I mean, look at Obama," Pratt told CBS News correspondent Adam Yamaguchi.
It's a wildly inaccurate comparison. Barack Obama was a constitutional law professor, a state senator for seven years, and a U.S. Senator before he won the presidency. Pratt's resume consists of fighting with Lauren Conrad on MTV, appearing on Celebrity Big Brother, and selling crystals online.
How Pratt Fired Back
Pratt didn't take Carey's criticism lying down. He responded on May 25 by trying to deflect the conversation, digging up a minor mention of Carey's name in past public documents regarding Jeffrey Epstein to try and discredit the comedian.
It's a standard internet deflection tactic. Instead of answering tough questions about his lack of policy knowledge, his actual plan for the city budget, or his specific proposals for rebuilding infrastructure, Pratt resorted to online mudslinging.
That specific reaction validates exactly what Carey warned voters about. When a candidate relies entirely on media distraction and personal attacks, they're showing you how they plan to govern.
What Los Angeles Voters Need to Remember Next
Protest votes feel good in the voting booth. They send a message to the establishment. But once the election is over, the winner actually has to run the city.
If you're a registered voter in Los Angeles heading to the primary on June 2, you have a choice to make. You can vote based on theatrical media appearances, or you can look at the actual qualifications of the people on the ballot.
Before you cast your vote, look past the social media clips. Read the official candidate statements. Evaluate whether a candidate has ever managed a large organization, drafted a budget, or worked within local government structures. The city is facing massive challenges regarding housing, public safety, and disaster preparedness. Dealing with those issues takes actual work, not reality TV drama. Don't let a slick media campaign distract from the actual responsibilities of the mayor's office.
