Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faced sharp criticism over what opponents called an ill-timed photo opportunity after she visited the site of a fatal news helicopter crash.
Bass, who is fighting to retain her position in a contentious re-election campaign, drew widespread backlash online after posting photos with firefighters at the Chatsworth, California, scene on Tuesday night.
The crash involved a NewsChopper4 helicopter that went down near the site of a deadly bus collision. Longtime NBC reporter Eliana “Eli” Moreno, pilot George Marciniw and an unidentified pedestrian on the ground were killed.
In a post on X, Bass said she was receiving updates from Los Angeles firefighters and expressed gratitude to the first responders working through “an incredibly difficult situation.”
The message quickly attracted negative reactions, with some users comparing the mayor’s response to her widely criticized handling of the 2025 Palisades wildfires, which unfolded while she was in Ghana.
“Anything for a photo op,” one commenter wrote. “Surprised you weren’t in Ghana.”
Another critic accused Bass of making her presence—and the accompanying photograph—the focus of the moment.
“You have to make a point of telling us you’re there. You have to make a point of capturing the moment with a picture,” the commenter wrote, adding that her presence served “absolutely no purpose.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faced criticism over what opponents described as an ill-timed photo opportunity at the scene of a fatal news helicopter crash Tuesday evening
Others mocked the mayor by calling the crash site “the first time Karen Bass has shown up to an active fire,” a reference to accusations that she was insufficiently present during the Palisades fires.
“This is in poor taste,” another person commented beneath the photograph of Bass with firefighters.
“Your photo ops are disgusting. Resign, NOW,” another critic wrote.
Our News Outlet has contacted Bass for comment on the reaction to her post.
The controversy comes as Bass faces a difficult re-election contest against Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nithya Raman.
Raman, who is affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America, finished second to Bass in the June primary.
However, the latest poll in May found that she was leading the incumbent mayor, 32 percent to 28 percent.
With no more recent polling between the pair, the general election on November 3 is seen as a tight race for the Los Angeles mayor’s office.
Bass is in the midst of a bitter re-election fight as she fights to keep her Los Angeles mayoralty
At a debate between the two remaining candidates last month, Bass launched into a scathing rebuke of her opponent, City Councilwoman Nithya Raman (right) as she branded her lazy
At a debate between the two remaining candidates last month, Bass launched into a scathing rebuke of Raman as she branded her opponent lazy.
‘I did the first tax credit when I was Speaker of the House. You were nowhere,’ Bass said with Raman sitting next to her.
‘Even when it came time to vote for the entertainment industry, you walked on votes. As a matter of fact, I believe you have missed several thousand votes because you don’t show up to work.’
Raman, a city councilmember serving under Bass, demanded an opportunity to respond to the criticism of her work ethic and acknowledged that she had missed meetings.
‘(Bass) knows, as well as I do, that I have had regular absences because I’ve been appointed to external boards that lead me to miss regular council meetings because these bodies that I’ve been appointed to by the previous mayor, by this mayor, sometimes conflict with our council days,’ the councilmember said.
Raman also went on the offensive, condemning the mayor’s track record on homelessness and deeming her housing program, Inside Safe, a failure.
‘This mayor has spent $400 million on Inside Safe, refused audits,’ Raman said.
Raman also highlighted how her Fourth Council District experienced a 49 percent decrease in unsheltered homelessness as a result of her efforts.
She promised to audit all city funds used for homelessness programs and track their performance, according to ABC 7.
