Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass drew sharp backlash after saying Palisades Fire victim Spencer Pratt was “exploiting the grief” of wildfire survivors in his campaign to unseat her. The remark came during an interview with MeidasTouch and quickly fueled criticism from people who said Bass was attacking a resident who lost his home in the fire.
Bass said she had never heard of Pratt before the campaign, then accused him of using the tragedy for attention. “I feel like he’s exploiting the grief of people in the Palisades,” she said, adding that the behavior was “reprehensible” and tied to his “own celebrity.”
Backlash over the mayor’s remarks
The response online was immediate and hostile, with critics saying Bass had crossed a line by going after a wildfire victim. One commenter on X wrote, “Exploiting grief? HE LOST EVERYTHING ALONG WITH FAMILY,” while another pointed to the scale of the disaster and said Bass seemed more upset about Pratt than the fire itself.
Pratt lost his home in the fire and now lives in an Airstream trailer on the burned-out lot, a detail he highlighted in a recent viral campaign ad. In that clip, he gestures toward Getty House, Bass’ official residence, and says, “This is where Mayor Bass lives. You notice something?”
Pratt pushes back
Pratt answered Bass’ comments on X and argued that his criticism comes from direct experience with the city’s failures. He said Bass focuses on “HER experience” instead of the daily reality of residents, writing that he has “experienced the consequences of Karen Bass’ failed leadership.”
He also tied his campaign to the wildfire response, saying, “They let my home burn down. I know the consequences of failed leadership,” before promising a new “Golden Age” in Los Angeles.
Fire response remains under scrutiny
Bass has faced heavy criticism for her handling of the January wildfires, which caused billions in damage, killed several people, burned 36,000 acres in Los Angeles County, destroyed or damaged more than 10,000 buildings, and displaced tens of thousands of residents. Critics have pointed to those numbers as evidence that the issue is bigger than a political feud.
The mayor’s office had also brought a group of Palisades survivors to Sacramento in February for a publicized meeting with legislators, and Bass later said she had brought “the right people to the table to get results.” She also told residents, “We’re going to stay united with Palisades until everybody is back home.”
Political fallout widens
The dispute has now become part of a broader fight over Bass’ leadership and reelection campaign. Even Trump administration official Richard Grenell weighed in on X, calling Bass a “career politician” who was offended by “someone new” running against her and saying she seemed “incredibly condescending.”
Other critics said Bass should not be focusing on Pratt at all if she still faces anger over the fire response. One X user wrote that Pratt came forward “to right your wrongs,” while another said Bass was out of touch and indifferent by attacking one of the most visible victims of the Palisades disaster.
The California Post contacted Bass’ office for comment as the controversy continued to grow around her remarks and Pratt’s increasingly visible challenge to her in the mayoral race.