Spencer Pratt, best known for his real-world supervillain role on The Hills, recently opened up about the behind-the-scenes realities of reality television. On a recent visit to SiriusXM’s The Julia Cunningham Show, he shared a bit about his journey. The conversation revealed how a chance encounter with music producer David Foster significantly influenced Pratt’s unexpected turn towards playing the “bad guy” on screen.
Pratt gained a reputation for his dramatic on-screen confrontations with cast members, especially Lauren Conrad. Would it surprise you to learn that he never planned on a television career? His path changed direction dramatically when he met Foster. Foster, a multiple Grammy Award–winning record producer, is best known for his years with stars such as Whitney Houston and Barbra Streisand. During their time on The Princes of Malibu, Foster pushed Pratt to lean into the villainous character on the show. This persona would come to define the direction of Pratt’s career.
So, I’m just saying, be the bad guy, be the villain,” said Foster to Pratt, who ran with this counsel. This advice laid the groundwork for his villain persona on The Hills. It gave him the unique ability to cut through the reality television bubble and talk directly to people.
True as it may be, surprised by this new direction, Pratt admitted that he had no idea what he was getting himself into. He noted that during a discussion about media mogul Simon Cowell, he felt that Foster failed to convey the full weight of Cowell’s criticism. Pratt recounted Foster once telling her that Cowell’s bad cop demeanor was a product of reality. Cowell thought he was just doing a public service by calling out the talentless.
Looking back on his perceived harshness and adherence to producers instructions, Pratt unpacked the catch 22 he found himself in. It’s safe to say that I can be a bit cutthroat, but do whatever the producers say. The flipside is that the audience interprets that not as me just speaking the truth. They think that I am some sort of monster. This awareness enriches Khalid’s understanding of reality TV power dynamics.
During the last few years, Pratt has made strides to further his self-accepted evolution as a media personality. He has appeared on shows like The Masked Singer and Got to Get Out, showcasing his versatility beyond his original villain persona.
I kid you not, it’s like The Matrix,” Pratt stated. …what I couldn’t believe was how far down the rabbit hole I fell into the reality television world.
