AI Videos Boost Spencer Pratt in Los Angeles Mayoral Primary

An AI-generated video showing the Hollywood sign on fire and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in Joker makeup has accumulated more than 5 million views on X. The video depicts California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris dining with elites while a Batman figure confronts armed agents in city streets.

The video is one of several produced to support Republican Spencer Pratt's candidacy in the Los Angeles mayoral race. Pratt, a former cast member of the MTV series "The Hills," formally launched his campaign in January.

Pratt has centered his campaign on criticism of city leadership during last year's wildfires that destroyed his Pacific Palisades home. He posted an Instagram video last week rapping a parody of the "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" theme song that referenced the fires and local politicians.

Los Angeles Republican Party Chair Roxanne Hoge told NBC News that Pratt's videos have generated visible excitement both online and at in-person events. She noted that voters often do not know who is running for mayor.

A Los Angeles Times poll released last week showed 30 percent support for Bass, 22 percent for Pratt, and 20 percent for City Council member Nithya Raman. Sixteen percent of respondents remained undecided. Mail voting for the June 2 all-party primary is already underway.

If no candidate receives 50 percent of the vote, the top two finishers advance to a November runoff. A spokesperson for Bass' campaign said the campaign takes every competitor seriously and believes Bass will finish first in the primary.