Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman is facing scrutiny over a campaign ad targeting incumbent Mayor Karen Bass that incorporates footage from a record-breaking documentary without a clear explanation of its origin.
The digital spot, aimed at criticizing Bass over the long-delayed LAX Automated People Mover, splices remarks from the mayor with a scene from the documentary “You Can See Everything.” The included segment features Nathan Fielder questioning Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes about whether her company’s device can run tests. The documentary clips used in the ad do not appear to be present in the film’s official trailer or viral teaser.
While Raman’s campaign credited KNX News for the audio of Mayor Bass, it provided no corresponding source or explanation for the movie footage. The unusual inclusion quickly drew public attention online, including sharp criticism from former mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt.
“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 in a post on X.
Recording a theatrical release directly off a movie screen without authorization can violate copyright law and constitute movie theater piracy. However, available information does not establish who recorded the clips or whether Raman’s campaign obtained proper permission for their use.
The copyright questions arrive as Mayor Bass continues to face political pressure over the airport train project. The Automated People Mover was originally scheduled to open in 2023 but has faced continuous setbacks, with its opening pushed back to at least Feb. 5, 2027. The 2.25-mile infrastructure project carries a development cost of $3.34 billion, averaging roughly $1.49 billion per mile. City officials have attributed the prolonged delays to technical problems during testing, disputes between municipal agencies, and ongoing legal battles.
Pratt, who finished behind in the primary race, has continued to target the remaining contenders from the sidelines as Raman and Bass prepare for a tightly contested runoff. A poll conducted by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies and released on Oct. 28 showed the mayoral race deadlocked, with both candidates registering 40% support and 19% of voters remaining undecided ahead of Tuesday’s vote.
