By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-12 21:06:03 | Updated at 2026-08-12 22:00:02
1 hour ago
Spencer Pratt didn’t survive the primary in the Los Angeles mayor’s race, but the reality TV star has apparently been resurrected in a new role — a political bogeyman in one of California’s nastiest Dem-on-Dem races.
West Hollywood Councilmember John Erickson, a Democratic candidate for state Senate, is accused of operating a fake Instagram account masquerading as supporters of rival Democrat Brian Goldsmith — not only tying Goldsmith to Pratt but also posting inflammatory messages about Israel seemingly calculated to provoke angry and antisemitic responses.
The accusation comes from Zennon Ulyate-Crow, a Gen Z Democrat who finished last in the June primary and later endorsed Goldsmith.
Ulyate-Crow said the suspicious “Pratt Voters 4 Goldsmith” account began peppering provocative comments in his Goldsmith endorsement post — prompting him to test whether it was connected to Erickson through a quirk in Instagram’s blocking feature.
Instagram gives users the option to block an account along with other existing or future accounts the platform associates with the same person.
Ulyate-Crow said he selected that option when he blocked Erickson’s verified account — and found the “Pratt Voters 4 Goldsmith” account was blocked as well. When he unblocked Erickson, he said, the purported Pratt-backers account reappeared. Ulyate-Crow did not take screenshots of that process, but he documented his side of the story in an Instagram post that has racked up 14,700 views.
Soon after posting that video the account Pratt Voters 4 Goldsmith was “nuked,” Ulyate-Crow said.
The now-deleted “Pratt Voters 4 Goldsmith” account described itself as a “coalition of Pratt supporters” backing Goldsmith and featured American and Israeli flags.
“Mad that Pratt ‘lost’? Help Goldsmith! He is a changemaker like Pratt, and backed by changemaker Caruso!” the account’s bio stated, referring to billionaire developer and former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Rick Caruso.
But some of the posts went much further.
“Everyone who opposes Goldsmith is antisemitic!” one Instagram story declared above a post about gunfire and vandalism targeting two Jewish-owned Toronto bagel shops.
The account also posted comments declaring, “There is no genocide in Gaza,” according to screenshots reviewed by The Post.
“On the very post where I endorsed Brian Goldsmith — specifically because of his moral character — his opponents spread borderline anti-Semitic, underhanded misinformation through a burner account called ‘Pratt Voters 4 Goldsmith’ to try and push people towards voting for himself,” Ulyate-Crow told The Post.
“To me, I was really disheartened because you know I ran in the race to be the first Gen Z legislator in California, and in this moment, I felt like the adult in the room.”
Erickson flatly denied having anything to do with the account and repeatedly challenged Ulyate-Crow to produce evidence beyond the Instagram blocking test.
“Neither I nor anyone I know of created or used this account referenced in this video,” Erickson told The Post.
“Making a claim or reporting on a claim like this without backing it up with evidence is irresponsible.”
Erickson also questioned Ulyate-Crow’s motives, noting that the former candidate had just endorsed his opponent.
“Remember, this comes after a day after Zennon endorsed my opponent,” Erickson added. “So you are a smart man, I’m sure. Do the math.”
Ulyate-Crow said he believes the messages were designed to bait people into attacking Goldsmith, particularly over his Jewish identity.
Goldsmith’s campaign blasted the anonymous account’s use of his religion.
“It’s pathetic that an anonymous Instagram account would exploit Brian’s Jewish identity to rage-bait voters and create more hate and division,” a spokesperson for the campaign said ina statement.
“Antisemitism has no place in our communities or our politics. Brian continues to gain momentum because people want a leader who doesn’t get distracted and will deliver results we can actually see.”
Ulyate-Crow said the episode reinforced concerns he already had about Erickson’s political tactics.
Earlier this year, West Hollywood Public Safety Commissioner Tod Hallman, an Erickson appointee, accused the councilman of threatening his commission position during a dispute over local political endorsements.
Erickson denied threatening or firing Hallman, who remains on the commission.
“My commissioner appointee? Who is still my commissioner appointee? I was accused of threatening and firing him, which I never did,” Erickson told The Post.
When asked about Hallman’s written assertion that Erickson had made a “clear and direct threat,” Erickson again pushed back.
“Making accusations without evidence is extremely irresponsible, and it’s sadly a role in which politics is being played right now,” he said.
The contest to succeed termed-out Democratic Sen. Ben Allen — a candidate for state insurance commissioner — in the heavily Democratic 24th Senate District has become increasingly bitter.
Erickson’s campaign website lists endorsements from Rep. Robert Garcia, California Treasurer Fiona Ma, state Sens. María Elena Durazo, Lena Gonzalez, Sasha Renée Pérez, Lola Smallwood-Cuevas and Akilah Weber Pierson, Assemblymembers Isaac Bryan, Matt Haney and Chris Ward, and Los Angeles County Supervisors Kathryn Barger, Janice Hahn, Lindsey Horvath and Hilda Solis.
His institutional backers include SEIU California, the California Teachers Association and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.
Goldsmith has assembled his own roster of political heavyweights, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton, Pete Buttigieg, former U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and Caruso. His campaign website also lists Ulyate-Crow among his supporters.
Erickson said no supporters have contacted him with concerns over the controversy.
In regards to Pratt, who did not respond to a request for comment, Erickson declined to comment on the controversial mayoral candidate.
“I have no comment on Spencer Pratt,” Erickson said. “I’m busy running my own campaign. Other candidates are not my priority.”
