Juicy Scoop with Heather McDonald
Episode: Spencer Pratt on LA Fire Lies and Fame
Date: January 27, 2026
Guest: Spencer Pratt
Overview
In this rich, unfiltered episode, Heather McDonald welcomes reality TV personality Spencer Pratt back to Juicy Scoop—this time at her home studio. The conversation dives deep into Spencer's activism following the catastrophic Los Angeles fires, his newly released memoir, the failures and corruption of LA’s political leadership, and the untangling of the “Fire Aid” scandal. Alongside the heavy discussion, they pivot into juicy celebrity gossip and reality TV reflections, delivering both serious insight and signature hilarity.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Spencer Pratt’s New Memoir and Audiobook
- Book Title: Spencer Pratt: The Guy You Loved to Hate
- Spencer discusses how his image has shifted from villain to truth-teller, partly thanks to Juicy Scoop exposure (03:02–03:51).
- Unique aspects: He’s the first audiobook author to have a “famous vocal producer” and Beyoncé’s mixer (03:51–04:11).
- The memoir is unflinching, revealing every misstep and regret, making it, in his words, “the worst book you would write to run for political office” (04:24–04:54).
Quote:
“It’s like someone else wrote it as a hit piece. But it’s me.”
—Spencer Pratt, 04:49
Exposing the Los Angeles Fire Coverup
The Personal Story
- After losing his and his parents’ homes in the 2025 fires, Spencer began investigating the disaster’s causes and aftermath (06:05–09:13).
- He is now a lead plaintiff in a suit against the city, LADWP, and the state (06:35).
Quote:
“I got to live in that false hope for a good couple months... but we are so effed. How did this happen?”
—Spencer Pratt, 06:05
The Fire Aid Scandal
- The “Fire Aid” benefit concert raised over $100 million to support fire victims.
- Despite promises, almost no victims received funds. Money routed through 200+ NGOs (non-governmental organizations) seems unaccounted for (10:49–14:17).
- Only vague claims of “gift cards” or small disbursements could be tracked. Major law firms and PR companies hired for damage control, at the expense of donor dollars (09:32–12:49).
Quote:
“You go on their [donation] site… there's no ding on the donation buttons that say this money could be used to help whitewash after-action reports that help lie on the truth of 12 people burning alive in 7,000 structures.”
—Spencer Pratt, 10:35
Government and Bureaucratic Failures
- Empty reservoirs and flawed emergency response enabled the destruction: “Both reservoirs were empty due to bureaucratic stalling and bizarre priorities—protection of a weed called 'milk vetch' over basic fire prevention” (24:12–31:16).
- Politicians (Mayor Karen Bass, Governor Newsom) obscured facts and pushed blame; firefighters and lower-level officials were muzzled, demoted, or fired for whistleblowing (21:35–23:44).
Quote:
“They’ll truly look you right in front and say all the water in the world wouldn't have made a difference when the max wind speed was 37 mph.”
—Spencer Pratt, 24:12
Why Victims Stay Quiet
- Many celebrity victims stay silent, fearing political backlash or damage to their brand (21:06–23:44).
- Even lower-level firefighters are scared for their jobs after seeing how whistleblowers were treated.
Running for Mayor of Los Angeles
- Spencer’s activism pushed him to challenge the establishment by announcing his intent to run for mayor (31:56).
- He feels his lack of ties and existing deals make him uniquely qualified to enact change (“the opposite of the status quo”) (46:29).
Quote:
“The only way to stop these people is take their position. If I become mayor, I can make actual changes.”
—Spencer Pratt, 31:56
- He calls for focus on local politics, not just national celebrity drama, warning that ignoring municipal corruption means “you’ll lose everything” (46:29).
On Corruption, Diversity Hiring, and Public Safety
- Freddie Escobar, head of the firefighter union (referenced from a prior podcast), confirmed hiring shifts prioritized DEI metrics over physical qualification, risking safety (34:32–36:11).
- Heather and Spencer critique policies that lower standards for essential jobs like firefighting (35:42–36:03).
The Role of Media and Messaging
- Mainstream coverage lags months behind or ignores citizen discoveries, often trying to “cover up” with corporate PR help (09:32–10:49).
- Advise for celebrities: Use self-deleting messaging apps—or, as Heather jokes, just pick up the phone (38:47–40:39).
Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments
| Segment | Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |---------|-----------|---------|-------| | Book & Memoir | 04:49 | Spencer | “It's like someone else wrote it as a hit piece. But it's me.” | | On Fire Aid | 10:35 | Spencer | “There's no ding on the donation buttons that say this money could be used to help whitewash after-action reports…” | | Political Corruption | 31:56 | Spencer | “The only way to stop these people is take their position. If I become mayor, I can make actual changes.” | | Celebrity Silence | 21:35 | Spencer | “Heidi always tells me not to go after these people… But I have messaged celebrities who had their house burned down… left on read.” | | Resilience & Hope | 73:46 | Spencer | “...older people...just hold onto me so tight...I think there’s people that haven't died just because they’re hoping for exposure.” | | On Qualifications | 79:52 | Spencer | “My training is all my failures… So good luck, guys. You’re up against your worst nightmare.” |
Pop Culture & Reality TV Rapid Fire
Taylor Swift, Blake Lively & Text Messaging Scandal (36:31–38:47)
- Rumors swirl about Blake Lively urging Taylor Swift to help bump Spencer's audiobook—unclear if real, but hilarious speculation.
Quote:
“I may not get any more merch and I kind of accepted that...My collection’s kind of, you know...”
—Spencer Pratt, 37:20
Celebrity Family Drama
- Victoria Beckham/Nicola Peltz soap opera analyzed; Spencer’s “insider” source calls Brooklyn Beckham “a little B,” with Nicola running the show (54:51–55:19).
- Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee: Is it weird to want closer post-divorce? Spencer and Heather agree the current wife’s boundaries make sense (63:56–65:51).
- Jaden Smith’s backpack brand: “Nepo babies is not an easy thing” (66:14–66:58).
Quote:
“Having in-laws that aren’t billionaires, I never have to worry about Heidi’s parents having any power over me.”
—Spencer Pratt, 58:42
Personal Reflections & Humor
- Heather and Spencer trade jokes about their own marriages and the perils of being a “boy mom” (59:10–59:46).
- Burrito content update: His iconic burrito videos have paused due to stress and TikTok switching his account to a political “government organization” (75:46–77:03).
Major Timestamps
- 01:30 – Show intro & memoir discussion.
- 06:05 – Spencer’s turning point post-fire.
- 09:13 – Investigative work and cover-ups.
- 14:17 – Fire Aid scandal deep dive.
- 24:12 – Empty reservoirs & political negligence.
- 31:56 – Deciding to run for mayor.
- 36:31 – Taylor Swift/Blake Lively rumors.
- 45:16 – Political identity and “Purple Party.”
- 54:51 – Victoria Beckham/Nicola drama.
- 66:14 – Nepotism in celebrity families.
- 73:07 – Impact and community recognition.
- 75:46 – Burrito videos and social media changes.
- 77:19 – Heidi’s response to the mayoral run.
- 79:52 – Why all Spencer’s “failures” are now his qualifications.
Tone and Language
The episode is candid, conspiratorial, and often hilarious: part true crime exposé, part pop culture roast, and part therapy session for two seasoned LA insiders. Spencer is animated, sarcastic, and committed to pulling back the curtain, while Heather mixes incisive commentary with reality TV nostalgia and funny, relatable anecdotes.
Takeaway
This episode is a masterclass in modern LA—the intertwined worlds of disaster, celebrity, activism, corruption, and survival, all narrated with brutal honesty and humor. Whether you want to understand the Fire Aid fraud, LA’s collective trauma, or just want juicy behind-the-scenes celeb takes, this episode delivers it all—straight from the man who “used to be hated,” but is now LA’s most unlikely whistleblower and (maybe) next mayor.