Spencer Pratt was told by police and security to get a gun after getting many death threats, & he became a Republican because Republicans were the only ones who supported Pratt and his wife getting a concealed handgun permit

Spencer Pratt, who is running to be the mayor of Los Angeles, said he bought a gun during the height of his reality TV fame on The Hills, when he was receiving numerous death threats.

In a May 2026 CNN interview, he explained: “When I was a hated reality star, I got so many death threats. I had so much security and police. And what did they tell me to do? Get a gun..” The reports do not give an exact year that Spencer Pratt bought a gun because of death threats, but The Hills was at its peak between roughly 2007 and 2010, so that appears to be the period he was referring to.

CNN Interviewer: Why are you a Republican?

Spencer Pratt: Well, you want to break some news here.

CNN: Sure.

Pratt: It’s in my . . . I’ve never told this before. This is the only time I have ever said this, so. this is breaking news. Everyone is going to freak out. When I was a hated reality star, I got so many death threats. I had so much security and police. And what did they tell me to do? Get a gun. I know people don’t like guns, but L.A. was dangerous if you are hated. So I got a gun. My wife got a gun, and then we needed CCWs [concealed weapon permits]. The only people that supported a CCW was the Republican. That is what I aligned with. My safety, my personal safety, my family’s safety. I know people don’t like guns, but when people are threatening your life and your own security is telling you need to have home protection. Trained, too. It’s not like, just, I went to the — you know, go through the proper steps. That was my, that’s it.

CNN: And you felt like that party was more Pro–Second Amendment.

Pratt: And that was it. And I know that is a very hot botton thing.