Breaking Bad Finale: Walter White 'Funeral' Raises $17,000 for Charity
On Saturday night, residents mourned the death of Walter White, the fictional meth cook from AMC's recently-concluded series "Breaking Bad." Over 200 people attended the funeral, which raised $17,000 for Albuquerque's Health Care for the Homeless.
The funeral procession was 80 cars long and took place in Albuquerque, the setting of "Breaking Bad." Bernalillo County deputies led the group. A battered RV followed, representing the RV where Mr. White and his partner, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), began their journey into the violent world of drug dealing. The 10-minute long procession shut down Albuquerque streets. Mourners donated money to attend the funeral, and many came dressed in black pork pie hats, an homage to the drug kingpin formally known as Heisenberg.
"We all need closure," Michael Flowers, eulogist and "Breaking Bad" set decorator, said to the crowd. "... The show is over, and what the hell are we going to do on Sunday nights?"
Fans came from as far as Mexico City, Ireland and Switzerland to say goodbye to the epic character that Bryan Cranston turned into a household name.
The funeral was supposed to be streamed on YouTube, but Sony and AMC cried copyright infringement, shutting the broadcast down.
After the funeral, a reception was held at a steakhouses where tickets were $100 per person. The reception included two drinks made with blue ice that looked suspiciously similar to Heisenberg's infamous blue meth.
Additional donations came from $10 bracelets and the auctioning of a painting of different faces of Walter White, which started at $10,000.
Some Albuquerque residents have had enough of Mr. White. They created a petition requesting that the gravesite be removed, which has accumulated over 900 signatures.
"Locations where 'Breaking Bad' filmed in Albuquerque have become tourist traps now that the show has ended," the petition reads. "Walter White's home draws up to 10,000 cars full of fans a month, according to the homeowner. Adding a physical grave site will encourage tourists to visit a sacred burial site of hundreds and hundreds of loved ones."
Sunset Memorial Park Officials say they will remove the memorial if it becomes "an attraction."
"We are a cemetery first and foremost," Vaughn Hendren, general manager, told the Albuquerque Journal. "Our allegiance lies with our families that have allowed us to bury their loved ones here,"
"Breaking Bad" ended on Sept. 29 with a record breaking 10.3 million viewers. A prequel to the series, titled "Better Call Saul," is in the works.