Spencer Pratt, a former reality TV star and candidate for Los Angeles mayor, reposted an AI-generated ad on X that portrays the city as a dystopian hellscape under current leadership. The video, created by filmmaker Charlie Curran, features flames engulfing the Hollywood sign, a socialist militia patrolling streets, and political figures like Governor Gavin Newsom, Mayor Karen Bass, and former Vice-President Kamala Harris depicted as uncaring royals. A vigilante version of Pratt emerges as the hero.
The repost came a day before a debate between Pratt, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, and city council member Nithya Raman. Pratt has criticised both over wildfire response, homelessness, and public safety. In a 19 April post, he wrote: 'It's easy for Karen Basura and Nithya Raman to claim 'crime is down' when they simply stop enforcing it. 60K open air drug zombies commit multiple felonies every single day.'
The ad amassed 3.6 million views by Wednesday. Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush called it 'maybe the best political ad of the year'. A spokesperson for Pratt said the candidate was not behind the video, attributing it to fan-made tributes. Alex Stack, a spokesperson for Bass, dismissed the ad as 'AI slop', highlighting Bass's record on homelessness, crime, and housing. Raman's campaign did not comment.
Political advertising expert Steve Caplan of the University of Southern California noted that AI-generated ads could become common due to their low cost and speed. However, he expressed scepticism about the ad's effectiveness in a Democratic-majority city like Los Angeles, where Hollywood workers may oppose AI promotion. 'The notion that there are enough voters who would align with this message to win in an election like LA – I'm highly skeptical of that,' he said.
