Spencer Pratt, the former reality star known for his role on The Hills, faced sharp criticism after his appearance on Fox & Friends on Thursday, just days before the Los Angeles mayoral election. Critics accused him of parroting Republican talking points about election fraud, a strategy often employed by the GOP since Donald Trump's rise.
Pratt's Fox & Friends Appearance
Pratt, a registered Republican, emphasized the possibility of election fraud in Tuesday's election, a move that drew immediate backlash. Despite attempts to distance himself from his GOP affiliation, his comments on the show were seen as aligning with conservative narratives.
During the interview, Pratt encouraged early voting but veered into conspiracy theory territory, saying, "We win with the most votes, and a lot of people again in California are concerned about, 'Oh, election fraud.' We can always outvote cheating. Period." He added that "moms alone and animal lovers" could outvote any alleged cheating in the next five days.
Pratt also referenced allegations of euthanasia at no-kill animal shelters, stating, "Animal lovers and moms, we're beating any cheating that people say could happen."
Public Reaction
Social media users were quick to criticize Pratt's remarks. One user wrote, "Here we go, @spencerpratt pulling the Trump card about 'cheating.'" Another commented, "Do republicans have any platform other than 'they're going to cheat so get to the polls!'"
Other reactions included:
- "He's really got the MAGA Republican playbook down because he's already trying to push a cheating story because he's running in a democratic stronghold area." — Miss Jelena
- "This dude is setting up a cheating scandal as soon as he loses. It's literally all the dude talks about." — Ryca
- "This abstract concept of 'voter fraud' only matters AFTER Rs lose the election you see?" — Lib Dunk
- "Cue the stolen election bullshit." — Rosemarie Lane
- "Pre determined excuse for when he loses. I am so sick of this crap from the right." — Ken Capperell
Pratt's Allegations Against Opponent
The Fox News appearance followed Pratt's claim that his opponent, Democratic incumbent Karen Bass, violated election laws by filming an ad too close to a ballot drop-off. Bass dismissed the allegation as baseless.
Pratt's focus on election fraud has drawn comparisons to Trump's tactics, with critics arguing that it undermines trust in the electoral process.
