Some New Mexico Republicans are upset about the decision to put up statues of “Breaking Bad” characters Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) at the Albuquerque Convention Center. On July 30, Cranston, Paul, “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan, and Albuquerque mayor Tim Keller were at a ceremony to show off the statues.
Gilligan said at the statues’ unveiling that honoring “two fictional, notorious meth dealers” wouldn’t be liked by everyone in New Mexico. He added, “In all seriousness, no doubt some people are going to say, ‘Wow, just what our city needed.'” I understand that. I see two of the best actors that the United States has ever made. I see them as two tragic figures that are bigger than life and serve as warnings.”
Gilligan was right, as it turned out. Two well-known people who don’t like the 500-pound statues are conservative talk radio host Eddy Aragon from Albuquerque and Republican state representative Rod Montoya.
“I’m glad the job went to New Mexico, but really?” Montoya told Fox News not long ago. “Are we going to literally praise people who make meth?”
“It’s not the kind of attention we want for Albuquerque or our state,” Aragon said. “What you saw on ‘Breaking Bad’ should really be a documentary. I think that’s really how things are in New Mexico. We try to say it’s made up, but it’s not. We joke that “Breaking Bad” should be on PBS. “Unfortunately, that’s the truth.”
Aragon criticized the state for putting up “Breaking Bad” statues after it took down a figure of Juan de Onate, the first Spanish governor of New Mexico and a Spanish conquistador.
Aragon said, “Now we have brand-new statues.” “Now we’re putting characters from stories in the lead. We have Jesse Pinkman and, of course, Heisenberg. We now have statues of both of them, and Albuquerque’s progressive mayor has stood behind them. Since we’re paying for them, it’s fine to get rid of real historical figures, and now it’s even better to have fictional drug dealers.”
Albuquerque’s mayor, Tim Keller, said that “Breaking Bad” statues were a good idea because the show has been good for business in the city over the years. He also said, “The stories might be made up, but jobs happen every day.” The city itself is also a person… We see ourselves in a lot of different ways, both good and bad.”