A viral TikTok video shows LA Mayor Karen Bass saying meth users need new teeth because “you can’t succeed without teeth.” The post tags reality star and mayoral hopeful Spencer Pratt with the caption “Spencer Pratt praying you can save LA from this destruction.” It’s blowing up online, with tons of people reacting and questioning the city’s priorities on homelessness and addiction.
The video was posted on TikTok by the account @rootsofhealing. In the clip, the poster discusses statements by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass at a mayoral candidate forum. Bass said that many unhoused people lack teeth because methamphetamine rots them, adding “you can’t succeed without teeth,” and called for comprehensive healthcare. The video does not show the full original exchange.
The remarks were part of a broader discussion on homelessness and addiction in the city. The poster presents Bass’s comments as a proposed approach to addressing the issue.
The Comments Section Lit Up
Some viewers expressed frustration with the idea of taxpayer-funded dental care for drug users, with one writing, “So, they chose to do drugs and taxpayers are on the hook for it again. Got it. I’m so tired of this [expletive].”
Others highlighted personal struggles, such as “No one’s paying for my damn teeth, and I work my “[expletive]” off,” and “Yet, the average, working American citizen can’t afford dental care.”
Several commenters voiced surprise or disbelief, including “WTH??? Craziest thing I’ve ever heard! California is a crazy place” and “[expletive] unbelievable.”
Some offered alternative views, with one stating, “How about the methheads go to rehab and get clean and be off drugs for a year, get counseling, once they have proven they want change, help them get some new chompers.”
A few commenters called for political change, with one writing, “Spencer for Mayor.”
The clip has since become part of a larger online discussion about Los Angeles’ approach to homelessness and addiction. As the city’s mayoral race continues, the video highlights the sharp divisions in how residents view solutions to the ongoing crisis.
