Republicans are outraged at the installation of a monument to "Breaking Bad" characters

The decision to erect a monument to "Breaking Bad" characters Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) at the Albuquerque Convention Center in New Mexico has sparked outrage among some state Republican figures. The two bronze statues were unveiled to visitors on July 30, 2022 in a ceremony attended by Cranston, Paul, "Breaking Bad" creator Vince Gilligan and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller.
At the unveiling of the monument, Gilligan said honoring "two fictional, infamous meth dealers" would not be celebrated by everyone in New Mexico, however, adding, "In all seriousness and without a doubt, some people will say, 'Wow, this is just what our city needs.' And I understand that. I see two of the best actors that America has. I see them as larger-than-life characters, tragic figures who have given us this cautionary tale."
Conservative-minded Albuquerque radio host Eddie Aragon and state Republican Rep. Rod Montoya denounced the installation of the statues. "I'm glad New Mexico got the business, but think about it - aren't we going down the road of literally glorifying methamphetamine manufacturers?" - Montoya made his point on Fox News.
That's not the kind of recognition we want for the city of Albuquerque or for our state," Aragon added. - "Honestly, what you've seen on the show 'Breaking Bad' is supposed to be a documentary. I think that's actually the reality in New Mexico. We're trying to say it's fiction, but that's the reality...
Aragon criticized the state for installing statues of "All the Way" after the decision was made to take down a statue of Spanish conquistador Juan de Onyate, who was the first Spanish governor of New Mexico.
Now we have brand-new statues," Aragon said. - Now we're putting fictional characters in the foreground. We have Jesse Pinkman and, of course, Heisenberg, and now we have statues of them, and our progressive mayor from the city of Albuquerque supported that decision. We're funding them, so it's okay to get rid of real historical figures and glorify fictional, drug-dealing ones."
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller insists the statues are appropriate given the positive economic impact the show has had on the city over the years. "While these stories may be fictional ... jobs are real every single day. The city is also a character... We see ourselves in different ways, both good and bad."
Breaking Bad. 2008-2013
The series Breaking Bad was created by Vince Gilligan and aired from 2008 to 2013 on AMC. The series, about a chemistry teacher who decides to brew meth to secure his family's future after learning of his terminal diagnosis, quickly gained cult status. The drama won a number of awards from the professional community and a sequel in the form of a prequel series, Better Call Saul, about attorney Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk). In 2019, the feature film "The Way: All the Way. The Movie," focusing on the fate of White's sidekick, Jesse Pinkman.