Spencer Pratt, Los Angeles mayoral candidate, has stated that death threats he received during his peak as a reality star convinced him to join the Republican Party.

Pratt, known for playing a recurring villain on MTV’s “The Hills,” explained in an interview that when he was receiving intense hostility, security personnel told him to obtain a firearm.

“Get a gun,” Pratt said. “This is real. I know people don’t like guns, but L.A. was dangerous if you’re hated.” He added that he and his wife, Heidi Montag, acquired concealed carry permits after the threats, noting that only Republicans supported such measures.

Pratt emphasized personal safety: “When people are threatening your life and your own security is telling you you need to have home protection—trained, too—go through the proper steps.”

The candidate pledged to deploy Los Angeles Police Department officers to every school in the city to prevent gun violence. He acknowledged that gun ownership among Angelenos is a highly debated issue but stressed its necessity for safety.

Former President Donald Trump praised Pratt’s campaign, stating: “I’d like to see him do well.” When asked which modern politician he aligns with most, Pratt compared himself to Barack Obama.

Additionally, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass attributed her failure to end street homelessness to bureaucratic barriers. Mayoral hopeful Nithya Raman was scheduled for an interview later in the week.