Spencer Pratt makes heartbreaking claim about Daveigh Chase
Spencer Pratt makes heartbreaking claim that "Lilo & Stitch" star Daveigh Chase died because no one was willing to force her into rehab, writing on X that "this poor beautiful girl is dead because nobody was willing to drag her to rehab against her will." The reality TV alum posted Saturday, one day after Chase's cause of death was revealed as AIDS.
Pratt, 42, responded directly to a New York Post headline about a disturbing Skid Row video showing Chase months before she died June 16. His comment reignited debate over addiction, homelessness in Los Angeles, and whether Hollywood did enough to help the former child star.
Key Takeaways
- Spencer Pratt blamed Chase's death on a lack of involuntary rehab intervention in a Saturday X post.
- Los Angeles County's medical examiner listed AIDS as her cause of death, with chronic polysubstance use as a contributing factor.
- Chase was hospitalized for malnutrition in early June before her June 16 death.
- Fans and Pratt critics tied her decline to homelessness on Skid Row and industry neglect.
- Pratt has campaigned on LA's homelessness crisis after his mayoral run ended earlier in June.
What did Spencer Pratt say about Daveigh Chase's death?
Pratt wrote on X on Saturday in reply to The Post's June 17 story, "Ghastly video shows 'Lilo & Stitch' actress Daveigh Chase wasting away on Skid Row months before death." He argued Chase died because "nobody was willing to drag her to rehab against her will."
The former Los Angeles mayoral candidate has repeatedly criticized city policies on homelessness and addiction. In a CNN interview last month, he said, "You don't get off these drugs with beds," adding that people need "support" and "a real solution." He claimed LA's decade-long approach has been "complete failure."
What was Daveigh Chase's cause of death?
One day before Pratt's post, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's report obtained by Page Six listed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) as the cause of death for the "Ring" and "Spirited Away" actress. Chronic polysubstance use was cited as a contributing factor, and the manner of death was ruled natural.
According to TMZ, Chase was admitted to a local hospital in early June due to malnutrition. Her alleged boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, said at the time she had developed serious blood infections that turned septic, along with meningitis, before she passed away.
Hernandez launched a fundraiser before her death, but her former longtime manager, John Ryan, told The Post that friends and family did not know Hernandez. Ryan said Chase had a SAG trust account to cover death-related costs and was "too far gone" in addiction involving drugs including fentanyl and heroin to claim residuals she had earned.
How did fans react to Chase's tragic final months?
In the comments on Pratt's post, fans echoed his grief. "How sad," one wrote. Another said, "It's a shame that nobody came forward to drag this girl to rehab" or "get her off of the streets." Others blasted Hollywood, with one comment reading, "A lifetime of use and abuse and left for dead on the streets."
Earlier this month, The Post published a clip showing Chase looking shockingly thin and nearly unconscious on the floor of a trailer or tent on Skid Row. Ryan said he had searched for her for months with a private investigator and her stepsister, Gaia Brown, before the video surfaced late last year.
For more updates on stars and scandals, see our Celebrity Breaking News coverage.
Why does Spencer Pratt keep speaking out on addiction?
Pratt was edged out of the Los Angeles mayoral race earlier in June by Karen Bass and Nithya Raman, but he has continued pushing for tougher responses to street addiction. His Chase comments fit a pattern of blaming systemic inaction for deaths among vulnerable people in LA.
Page Six noted that if you or someone you care about is affected by addiction, SAMHSA's National Helpline is available at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).