Bryan Cranston, who famously starred as Walter White in "Breaking Bad," recently spoke out in defense of his on-screen wife, Skyler White, and the actress who portrayed her, Anna Gunn. Cranston's comments, made during a recent program, addressed criticism from his "Malcolm in the Middle" co-star Frankie Muniz, reigniting fan discussion about the controversial character.
On the show "Hot Ones," Frankie Muniz admitted that, like many "Breaking Bad" viewers, he held a negative impression of Skyler's character. He felt she was an obstacle to her husband Walter White's descent into crime. Muniz even half-jokingly suggested that he wished Skyler could have been written off the show, believing it would have made Walter's story smoother and reduced character conflicts.
In response, Cranston stated that Skyler's character has long suffered unfair criticism, emphasizing Anna Gunn's outstanding performance.
"Her husband leaves home without warning, she's pregnant, he's making crystal methamphetamine and people have died. And she's the bitch? Like, we couldn't understand," Cranston remarked. His comments once again highlighted the long-standing controversy surrounding the character.
In fact, after "Breaking Bad" concluded in 2013, Anna Gunn penned an op-ed for The New York Times, revealing that she had received a barrage of online attacks due to her character. These included sexist comments, with some instances escalating into threatening remarks that left her feeling deeply unsettled.
"Breaking Bad" creator Vince Gilligan also stated in a 2022 interview that the negative reception of Skyler's character had always troubled both him and Anna Gunn. He emphasized that the character's actions were entirely reasonable and that the actress herself should not have to endure excessive attacks.
Notably, unlike many other main cast members, Anna Gunn did not return for a cameo appearance in the prequel series "Better Call Saul." On a separate note, Bryan Cranston and Frankie Muniz recently reunited to star in "Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair," with new episodes released on Disney+, bringing them back together as father and son on screen.
via： IGN