Reality TV star Spencer Pratt, known for The Hills, is drawing sharp criticism in his campaign for Los Angeles mayor after reports revealed discrepancies between his campaign imagery and his actual living situation following the destruction of his Pacific Palisades home in the 2025 Palisades Fire.
Pratt has centered his underdog candidacy on the city’s slow rebuilding efforts after the wildfires, frequently highlighting his own loss. In a campaign ad posted in late April 2026, he stood in front of an Airstream trailer parked on his burned-out lot and declared, “This is where I live,” contrasting his circumstances with those of opponents living in luxury homes. He has described purchasing the trailer with SBA disaster loan funds and craning it onto the property, with footage showing him and wife Heidi Montag briefly camping there with their children.
However, recent reporting by TMZ and the Los Angeles Times painted a different picture. Pratt’s family had been staying in a rental home in Carpinteria, in Santa Barbara County—owned by his parents—since shortly after the fire. More recently, Pratt himself has spent significant time at the upscale Hotel Bel-Air, a luxury property where rooms can exceed $1,000 per night. The revelations prompted accusations that Pratt misled voters by cultivating the image of a displaced resident roughing it in a trailer on his ruined land.
Pratt has pushed back forcefully. In interviews and social media statements, he insists he “doesn’t live” at the hotel, the Airstream, or in Santa Barbara. “I don’t have a house. They burned it down,” he told TMZ, adding that his legal residence remains the Pacific Palisades property. He has cited safety concerns, including alleged death threats that made the exposed lot untenable, and delays in connecting utilities as reasons the trailer has not become a full-time residence. Pratt also maintains that the city clerk has confirmed his eligibility to run despite the temporary out-of-county stay, arguing that the Santa Barbara move was a family safety decision after the Los Angeles Times report drew attention to the rental.
The controversy has fueled debate online and in local media about authenticity in the mayoral race, especially as Pratt positions himself as a voice for fire victims frustrated with bureaucratic delays. Supporters view the attacks as partisan smears against a candidate willing to call out city leadership, while critics question whether his messaging matches his reality. As the June 2026 primary approaches, the episode underscores the intense scrutiny facing high-profile challengers in a city still grappling with wildfire recovery.
SOURCES:
LA mayoral hopeful and reality star Spencer Pratt claimed he was living in trailer after wildfires. He was actually at the Hotel Bel-Air | The Independent
Spencer Pratt faces backlash over L.A. mayoral campaign ad, denies living at luxury hotel | KTLA
Spencer Pratt Fires Back Over Claims He Misled Voters About Living in Trailer
Spencer Pratt Clarifies Living Situation After Hotel Residency Denial
Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag Camp With Their Kids on Site of Burned Home
