Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt has posted claims on X alleging that comedians Drew Carey and Chelsea Handler appear in documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex offender who died in a federal jail cell in 2019.
The post, published Monday, included an alleged screenshot of a 2002 email from TV writer Jeff Davis to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's associate and co-conspirator. The email references having dinner with Drew Carey and discusses "our encounter" with Maxwell.
Pratt also shared a clip of comedian Shane Gillis discussing Chelsea Handler's reported dinner at Epstein's home in 2010. Pratt's post has generated more than 5.6 million views since publication.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative media outlets including the Daily Wire have amplified Pratt's posts, framing them as legitimate questions about Epstein's network of associates that mainstream outlets have avoided investigating.
Pratt has positioned himself as an outsider candidate who became politically motivated after losing his home in the 2025 Palisades Fire, which he blames on "gross negligence" by local authorities. His supporters argue his celebrity status and willingness to raise uncomfortable questions distinguish him from career politicians.
What the Left Is Saying
Chelsea Handler, a longtime Democratic supporter and progressive commentator, responded to Pratt by criticizing his candidacy on social media, calling him "a straight white male former reality star that has no previous experience in government."
"Have we learned anything yet? The bar is on the f***ing floor, people, and I need you to jump over it," Handler said in a video posted to Instagram. She did not address the Epstein allegations directly.
Progressive commentators have largely dismissed Pratt's claims as deflection tactics from a candidate trailing incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat who has represented Los Angeles since 2022. They note that Pratt's viral posts appear designed to redirect attention away from scrutiny of his own qualifications and business practices.
What the Numbers Show
Spencer Pratt entered the Los Angeles mayoral race in early 2026 as a political newcomer, polling significantly behind incumbent Karen Bass despite viral social media engagement. The alleged email from Jeff Davis to Ghislaine Maxwell dates to 2002, approximately seven years before Epstein's first criminal conviction in Florida.
The Shane Gillis clip referenced by Pratt discusses Handler attending a dinner at Epstein's home in 2010 with approximately seven other guests including Prince Andrew and Woody Allen, according to Gillis's comedy set. Neither Handler nor Carey have faced criminal charges related to Epstein.
The Bottom Line
Pratt's allegations remain unverified claims posted to social media alongside screenshots that cannot be independently confirmed by Political Bytes. His mayoral campaign has generated significant national attention but faces substantial polling deficits against Bass in the heavily Democratic city.
The controversy highlights how celebrity candidates are using viral social media tactics in local elections, raising questions about the role of unconfirmed allegations in political discourse. Pratt's next public appearances and any official response from Carey or Handler could further shape the race ahead of Los Angeles mayoral voting.