Breaking Bad House Owner

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About

Breaking Bad House Owner refers to the lady who's the homeowner of Walter White's house in Albuquerque, New Mexico from the TV series Breaking Bad. Due to the show's popularity, the woman has become known for her hostility towards fans and sightseers attempting to visit the location, often seen outside of her home in YouTube and TikTok videos. She's since put up fences, signs, traffic cones and cameras to ward off trespassers that have thrown pizza on her roof based on the Walter White scene. The woman's been compared to a Karen by some while others sympathize with her plight.

Online History

Fran Padilla, Homeowner Between 1973-2017

On August 7th, 2013, YouTuber^[1] MachinimaETC uploaded a video titled, "THE BREAKING BAD HOUSE- Who really LIVES there?" In the video, they interviewed the then-owner of the Breaking Bad house named Fran Padilla, who stated that she'd been living there with her family since 1973. Apparently, Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan was scouting in the area and approached Padilla before the pilot. Additionally, Padilla stated that the actual home's interior was not represented in the show, instead being replicated and altered in a separate sound stage. The pool, however, is a part of the actual home.^[1] The video has since been deleted but is the earliest known example of a post featuring the owner online.

On November 8th, 2014, the YouTube^[2] channel of Albuquerque local news station KRQE uploaded a video, wherein, they interviewed Padilla about disrespectful fans and trespassers. Padilla stated that more people had been showing up to the house in its final season. They were walking up onto the driveway without permission and even attempting to throw pizza on the roof. Ultimately, Padilla had to set up security cameras and "No Trespassing" signs. Over the course of eight years, the video received roughly 61,300 views (shown below, left).

On March 13th, 2015, the YouTube^[3] channel of HLN posted a video about Padilla and the trespassers. In the video, HLN included a clip of Vince Gilligan speaking on the Better Call Saul Podcast, saying that Padilla is the "sweetest lady ever" and that he doesn't consider the trespassers "fans" but instead considers them "jagoffs." Over the course of seven years, the YouTube video earned roughly 3.3 million views (shown below, right).

On July 18th, 2017, a YouTuber^[4] named Danny Jet recorded himself approaching Padilla's home and being confronted by her. His video received roughly 19,900 views in five years. In May 2020, it was reported that Fran Padilla, the owner of the Breaking Bad home, had passed away due to cancer.^[5] The house changed ownership during this year and was sold to an unknown family.

New Ownership 2020-Present

In 2021, videos of fans approaching the Breaking Bad house with its new owners appeared on TikTok. The first video of this nature posted on the platform was uploaded on February 4th, 2021, by TikToker^[6] artyouglad, where over the course of a year and a half, it received roughly 70,100 plays and 5,200 likes (shown below, left). It can be seen in the TikTok that the new owners installed two security fences around its perimeter.

On April 16th, 2021, TikToker^[7] quenchyouradventure posted a video about driving by the Breaking Bad house and being saddened by the owners' need for security measures. The video earned roughly 28,900 plays and 1,900 likes in a year and a half (shown below, right).

Going into 2021, TikTokers and YouTubers continued to visit the Breaking Bad house, documenting their sightseeing, as well as confrontations with the owner. On May 23rd, 2021, TikToker^[8] lavencura23 posted a video of her and friends outside the house when the owner came out and called them all "fatasses." Over the course of 15 months, the video received roughly 3.2 million plays and 320,400 likes (shown below, left).

On June 30th, 2021, TikToker^[9] homeloanqueen uploaded a similar video, driving by the residence while the lady was sitting in the front yard and said, "keep going, get out." Over the course of 12 months, the video received roughly 6.9 million plays and 1.1 million likes (shown below, right).

The female owner became more notorious and aggressive going into 2022. For instance, on August 14th, 2022, TikToker^[10] yung_kippur_ posted a video, wherein, he exchanged banter with the owner. He asked her, "Are you the Danger?" to which she replied, "Are you the Stupid?" Then, yung_kippur_ asked her, "Are you the one who knocks?" to which she replied, "Are you the one that's dead?" In two days, the TikTok received roughly 2.3 million plays and 460,700 likes (shown below).