Reality TV Star Spencer Pratt Releases Tell-All Memoir Ahead of L.A. Mayoral Run

Pratt's book 'The Guy You Loved to Hate' offers a candid look at his infamous career and personal life, but may not win him many votes.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Spencer Pratt, a former reality TV star, has announced a run for mayor of Los Angeles and has released a tell-all memoir titled 'The Guy You Loved to Hate.' The book, which debuted at No. 7 on The New York Times bestseller list, provides a candid and often shameless account of Pratt's rise to fame and his more recent turn as a critic of state and local government officials. While the book is an entertaining read, it is unlikely to win Pratt many votes, as it reveals him to be an emblematic Southern California character obsessed with fame, wealth, and self-mythology.

Why it matters

Pratt's memoir represents an unconventional approach to political campaigning, as he has leveraged his opposition research file as a revenue stream. This move raises questions about the role of celebrity, privilege, and personal branding in modern politics, particularly in a city like Los Angeles where the entertainment industry holds significant influence.

The details

Pratt's memoir traces his infamous career as a reality television star, including his time on the MTV show 'The Hills,' as well as his more recent turn as a high-profile critic of state and local government officials. The book is candid to the point of shamelessness about the chaotic, amoral character Pratt has long monetized, both on- and off-screen. It includes details about Pratt's privileged upbringing, his involvement with a fraternity pledge master who later became an international drug kingpin, and his history of rumor-mongering and selling personal photos of celebrities.

  • Pratt announced his run for mayor of Los Angeles in January 2026.
  • Pratt's memoir 'The Guy You Loved to Hate' debuted at No. 7 on The New York Times bestseller list in February 2026.

The players

Spencer Pratt

A former reality TV star who has announced a run for mayor of Los Angeles. His memoir 'The Guy You Loved to Hate' provides a candid look at his infamous career and personal life.

Owen Hanson

Pratt's fraternity pledge master at USC, who later became an international drug kingpin.

Brody Jenner

A friend and future 'The Hills' castmate of Pratt's, who Pratt says was 'surprisingly good at psychological warfare.'

Lauren Conrad

A 'The Hills' star, whom Pratt previously rumor-mongered about having a sex tape with.

Rob Blagojevich

The disgraced former governor of Illinois, who warned Pratt to 'stay out of politics' because 'it's dangerous.'

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What they’re saying

“I come from a looong line of so-called 'conspiracy theorists' who turned out to be dead-on accurate, because it's only a conspiracy theory until it becomes breaking news. Then, suddenly, everyone's acting like they saw it coming all along.”

— Spencer Pratt (The Guy You Loved to Hate)

“Desperate times, desperate measures. When you really think about it, it was a win-win. Mary-Kate got her rebel rebrand.”

— Spencer Pratt (The Guy You Loved to Hate)

What’s next

It's unclear how Pratt, who has no prior leadership experience, expects to oversee the city of Los Angeles' $14 billion annual budget. Billionaire L.A. developer Rick Caruso, who lost to Karen Bass in the 2022 mayoral election, has expressed doubts about Pratt's ability to manage the job.

The takeaway

Pratt's memoir and mayoral run highlight the growing influence of celebrity, privilege, and personal branding in modern politics, particularly in entertainment-centric cities like Los Angeles. While his book may be an entertaining read, it remains to be seen whether Pratt's unconventional approach will resonate with voters.