Nithya Raman’s campaign is facing questions over its use of potentially pirated movie footage in an attack ad targeting Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
The ad, which takes aim at Bass over the long-delayed LAX Automated People Mover, features footage from the record-breaking documentary “You Can See Everything” that does not appear to be included in the film’s official trailer or viral teaser.
The spot splices Bass discussing the troubled airport train with a scene from the documentary featuring Nathan Fielder questioning Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes about whether her company’s device “can run any test” or is “capable” of running any test.
In the ad, Bass says, “The people mover is there you can see it,” before clarifying, “No, I’m saying it’s in its testing phase.”
The campaign credited KNX News for the mayor’s interview but offered no corresponding explanation for the source of the movie footage.
The unusual use of the clips drew attention online, including from mayoral candidate-turned-critic Spencer Pratt, who questioned whether Raman’s team had used unauthorized theater-recorded footage.
“Wait a second… did the lady who wants to represent Hollywood… rip in-theater camcorder footage of a theatrical release film for a campaign ad?” Pratt wrote on X. “WTF.”
Recording a theatrical release directly off a movie screen without authorization can violate copyright law and constitute movie theater piracy. But the available information does not establish who recorded the clips or whether Raman’s campaign obtained permission to use them.
The controversy lands as Bass continues to face scrutiny over the airport people mover, which was originally supposed to open in 2023 but has been pushed back until at least Feb. 5, 2027.
The 2.25-mile project carries a staggering $3.34 billion development cost, roughly $1.49 billion per mile.
Technical problems during testing, disputes between city agencies and ongoing legal battles have contributed to the latest delay.
Pratt, who lost in the primary to Bass and Raman, is now taking shots from the sidelines as the two candidates prepare for Tuesday’s runoff.
The race remains deadlocked, according to a UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times and released Oct. 28.
Both candidates registered 40% support, while 19% remained undecided.
