Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt fired back at CBS News on May 5, 2026, accusing the network of editing a recent interview with him into a “comical hit piece.” The former The Hills star, running as an independent candidate for mayor, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his frustration after CBS aired a segment that he felt misrepresented him.
Pratt’s Criticism of CBS’ Editing
Pratt claimed that CBS filmed him for over an hour at the site of his burned-out home in Pacific Palisades, which had been destroyed in the 2025 L.A. wildfires. He argued that, instead of presenting the interview honestly, the network handed the footage over to Karen Bass’ PR team to edit it into a 5-minute segment filled with clips from The Hills, a show Pratt starred on in the mid-2000s.
“They can’t beat my ideas, they can’t beat me in the debates, so they gotta try to turn my campaign into a sideshow,” Pratt wrote in his post. He also vowed to cut ties with CBS, saying, “They’ll never get a word from me for my next 8 years as mayor. Adios!”
CBS Coverage of Pratt’s Mayoral Campaign
The CBS Mornings segment aired on May 6, 2026, and included a charred hillside interview with Pratt, filmed in front of the remains of his home. Correspondent Adam Yamaguchi frequently referenced Pratt’s role on The Hills and his current bid for mayor. The segment included moments where Yamaguchi asked Pratt about his lack of political experience, to which Pratt responded, “I may not have the experience, but I have the common sense to say, ‘This is not working.’”
Further, Politico’s Melanie Mason added commentary, noting that it would be a difficult road for Pratt to convince voters in liberal Los Angeles to back him, considering his independent status and alignment with Republican values. The video also featured clips of Pratt’s political ads, where he emphasized the need for a change in leadership following the wildfires.
Video Editing Dispute and Future Plans
Pratt’s team did not provide further comment, but sources close to the situation revealed that the full video would be released on May 7 and clarified that no external parties were involved in the editing process. Pratt’s campaign has yet to respond to requests for additional comments.
As Pratt continues to criticize media coverage, his mayoral campaign focuses on tackling systemic issues in the city, despite the challenges he faces from both media scrutiny and the dominant political forces in Los Angeles.
