Additional Coverage:
- Spencer Pratt fires back at Jimmy Kimmel’s mockery by resurfacing host’s blackface controversy (foxnews.com)
During Wednesday night’s episode of his talk show, Jimmy Kimmel took aim at Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt, sparking a sharp exchange between the two figures. Pratt, a former reality TV personality turned political hopeful, fired back by highlighting one of Kimmel’s most controversial moments.
Pratt, 42, is vying to succeed current LA Mayor Karen Bass. He has positioned himself as a strong advocate for residents affected by the 2025 Palisades wildfire, an event that destroyed his own home. Since launching his campaign in January, Pratt has been critical of Bass’s management of the wildfire crisis.
Kimmel joked about the slow vote count in California’s recent elections, quipping, “It could take a while for Democrats here in Los Angeles to figure out which of their friends secretly voted for Spencer Pratt.” He added, “Barring a late ballot buzzer-beater, it appears Mayor Karen Bass will advance to a runoff against the former reality show villain.”
Continuing the mockery, Kimmel said, “Sixty percent of the vote has been counted. If that holds, it means in November Los Angelenos are going to have to choose between a woman named Karen and a man who is one,” referencing the popular “Karen” meme.
He went on to assert, “Spencer Pratt should not be a top-two finalist for mayor. He should be DJing the worst New Year’s Eve party in Reno right now,” and noted Pratt’s reality show filming about his campaign as evidence of misplaced priorities.
In response, Pratt shared a screenshot from a widely criticized early 2000s skit in which Kimmel appeared in blackface impersonating former NBA star Karl Malone. This moment has been a persistent point of controversy for Kimmel, who has publicly apologized for the skit.
Kimmel addressed the issue in past statements, explaining that makeup artists were used to closely mimic Malone’s appearance, and that he never intended the portrayal to be offensive or racially charged. He said, “I never considered that this might be seen as anything other than an imitation of a fellow human being,” and acknowledged that many of his past celebrity impressions, including those of Snoop Dogg, Oprah, and Eminem, have become “embarrassing” in retrospect.
He expressed frustration that these earlier moments have been used against him, stating, “I won’t be bullied into silence by those who feign outrage to advance their oppressive and genuinely racist agendas.” Still, Kimmel offered an apology to those he has disappointed, saying, “Thank you for giving me an opportunity to explain and to those I’ve disappointed, I am sorry.”
The exchange underscores the ongoing tensions between public figures navigating past controversies and the evolving political landscape of Los Angeles as voters prepare for the upcoming mayoral runoff.