Aaron Paul kept audiences hooked throughout the legendary run of Breaking Bad, bringing Jesse Pinkman to life in a way that fans still can’t forget. But even years after the show ended, he’s dealing with some unexpected side effects of playing the iconic role.
During a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday, the Need for Speed star revealed that he still gets randomly called “b*tch” by fans on the street—a signature phrase his character was known for. And apparently, it’s not just an occasional thing. “It’s still very much a problem,” Paul admitted, making it clear that even though Breaking Bad wrapped up years ago, its influence hasn’t faded.
“It’s so wild because the show’s been done for so long,” Paul remarked. Yet, thanks to streaming services, new fans are discovering it every day, keeping Jesse Pinkman’s legacy alive in both good and unexpected ways.
In fact, Paul believes he might hold a world record when it comes to being called “btch.” “I can confidently say I’ve been called ‘btch’ more than anyone else in the world. It’s true,” he told host Jimmy Kimmel, laughing at how the nickname has followed him beyond the screen.
For those unfamiliar with the show, Aaron Paul played Jesse Pinkman, a former student of Walter White (portrayed by Bryan Cranston), a high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with terminal cancer. What starts as a desperate bid to make money for his family soon spirals into a dangerous partnership, as Walter and Jesse dive deep into the world of methamphetamine production and distribution.
Paul’s portrayal of Jesse earned him critical acclaim—and three Emmy Awards—but one of the character’s most memorable traits was his frequent use of the word “btch.” The term became so ingrained in Jesse’s dialogue that Paul once told Conan O’Brien there were simply too many “btches” to count. However, if he had to pick a favorite, he went with the now-famous line: “Yeah, btch! Magnets!”*
Other fan-favorite catchphrases from Jesse include “Gatorade me, btch!”* and “This is my own private domicile, btch.”*—both of which are still widely quoted by fans today.
Breaking Bad originally aired in 2008 and ran for five intense, critically acclaimed seasons. Alongside Paul and Cranston, the cast included Anna Gunn as Skyler White, Dean Norris as Hank Schrader, RJ Mitte as Walter White Jr., and Bob Odenkirk as the fast-talking lawyer Saul Goodman.
Even after all these years, Breaking Bad remains one of the greatest TV shows of all time—and for Aaron Paul, that means Jesse Pinkman’s legacy lives on in a way he never could have imagined.
