The Breaking Point: Aaron Paul’s Candid Comments
Aaron Paul, the Emmy-winning actor who played Jesse Pinkman in the iconic TV series “Breaking Bad,” has recently stirred the pot with some eyebrow-raising comments. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight Canada at a SAG-AFTRA rally, Paul openly expressed his frustration over not receiving residuals from Netflix for “Breaking Bad.”
“I don’t get a piece from Netflix on ‘Breaking Bad’ to be totally honest and that’s insane to me,” Paul told the publication while striking alongside former co-stars Bryan Cranston and Jesse Plemons.
The actor’s comments have caught fire on social media, igniting a debate about fair compensation in the age of streaming services.
Netflix’s Role in the ‘Breaking Bad’ Phenomenon
“Breaking Bad,” which originally aired on AMC, owes a significant debt to Netflix for amplifying its popularity. The streaming giant made the first three seasons available before the fourth season began airing on AMC, giving the show a substantial boost. The relationship between “Breaking Bad” and Netflix was further cemented when the sequel film, “El Camino,” starring Aaron Paul, was released as a Netflix original.
“Shows live forever on these streamers and it goes through waves,” Paul continued. “And I just saw the other day that ‘Breaking Bad’ was trending on Netflix, and it’s just such common sense, and a lot of these streamers, they know they have been getting away with not paying people just fair wage and now it’s time to pony up.”
Netflix has yet to respond to Variety’s request for comment, leaving fans and industry insiders alike wondering how the company will address these allegations.
Bryan Cranston Joins the Fray
Not to be outdone, Bryan Cranston, who portrayed Walter White in “Breaking Bad,” has also been vocal about labor issues. He has joined picket lines in both New York City and Los Angeles since the start of the SAG-AFTRA strike. In a passionate speech in Times Square, Cranston directly targeted Disney CEO Bob Iger.
“We’ve got a message for Mr. Iger,” Cranston said. “I know, sir, that you look [at] things through a different lens. We don’t expect you to understand who we are. But we ask you to hear us, and beyond that to listen to us when we tell you we will not be having our jobs taken away and given to robots. We will not have you take away our right to work and earn a decent living. And lastly, and most importantly, we will not allow you to take away our dignity! We are union through and through, all the way to the end!”
The Bigger Picture: Streaming Services Under Scrutiny
The comments from both Paul and Cranston come at a time when streaming services are under increasing scrutiny for their compensation models. As more and more content moves online, the question of how to fairly compensate creators and actors becomes ever more pressing. The SAG-AFTRA strike and the outspokenness of high-profile actors like Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston could be a tipping point in this ongoing debate.
What’s Next?
While Netflix remains silent, the controversy continues to gain momentum. Whether or not this will lead to changes in how streaming services compensate their talent remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the conversation has started, and it’s not going away anytime soon.
