[imagesource:twitter/@beanjustsu]

One would assume that playing an iconic character on one of TV’s biggest-ever series would mean raking in the big bucks for years to come, but actor Aaron Paul has exposed that this may not be the case.

Renowned for his role as Jesse Pinkman in the iconic show Breaking Bad, Aaron has disclosed that he receives no residual pay for the show’s colossal success on Netflix.

Paul, along with his fellow Breaking Bad cast members, recently joined the picket line in support of the ongoing strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA).

During the demonstration, Paul shed light on the astounding popularity of Breaking Bad on the streaming platform and shocked viewers by explaining that he sees nada from it at the end of the day.

“I don’t get a piece from Netflix on Breaking Bad to be totally honest, and that’s insane to me. I think a lot of these streamers know that they have been getting away with not paying people a fair wage and now it’s time to pony up.”

Don’t worry Pinkman, it’s insane to us too.

The actor’s remarks were made outside Sony Pictures Studios, where fellow Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston, who played everyone’s fave anti-hero Walter White, underscored that the aim of the strikes was not to vilify studios and streamers but to seek genuine dialogue around the financial realities involved.

“We just want them to see reality and fairness and come back to the table and talk to us.”

Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston join the SAG-AFTRA strike picket line in front of Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California.

More 📸 #SagAftraStrike 👉 https://t.co/Iqd2fcNO7T@aaronpaul_8 pic.twitter.com/SkbQrAa4vX

— Getty Images Entertainment (@GettyVIP) August 30, 2023

The strikes involving SAG-AFTRA and WGA transpired after negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), representing major studios such as Netflix, Disney, and Sony, reached an impasse. The unions are primarily advocating for improved compensation, equitable streaming residuals, and safeguards against the utilisation of AI technology in the industry.

Sounds more than fair, but I guess it also means tackling the monumental mountain of Hollywood’s historical exclusion, poor pay and undermining of behind-the-scenes contributors like writers. It’s no small task.

But that being said, in the words of beloved yet troubled Breaking Bad character Jesse Pinkman: “You either run from things, or you face them, Mr White.”

Time to face the music, Netflix.

[source:nme]