Aaron Paul weighs in after Toys R Us pulls ‘Breaking Bad’ dolls

A Florida mom angry that giant retailer Toys R Us is selling "Breaking Bad" action figures that come with toy crystal methamphetamine asked the business to stop selling them in stores this week. She ticked off Bryan Cranston Monday but got the chain to pull the toys from shelves Tuesday.

Aaron Paul caught wind of the controversy and tweeted his displeasure on Thursday.

Susan Schrivjer of Fort Myers was not happy when she found the meth-making mastermind Walter White doll alongside the partner-in-crime Jesse Pinkman doll on toy store shelves not far from Barbies and Disney characters. So she decided to launch a change.org petition asking the stores to pull the items from its shelves. It succeeded after 9,300 signatures.

The effort cooked up support but also attracted critics, who tried to stop her with a petition of their own.

It even drew criticism from the man himself.

Bryan Cranston's Walter White was a cancer suffering former high school science teacher, turned meth cooker, turned notorious drug kingpin, while Pinkman (played by Aaron Paul, conspicuously silent on this issue so far on Twitter) was his accomplice in the critically acclaimed AMC series that ran from 2008 to 2103.

White’s doll, depicted as the character’s gun-toting alter ego Heisenberg, comes complete with Walt’s famous hat and glasses as well as a bag of money and a bag of blue crystals. It’s on sale for $13.99.

“Relive the tense, edge of your seat excitement as Mezco's Breaking Bad action figure stares at you from inside his collector friendly clamshell package, he dares you to make your move. All Hail The King!" says the product description on the store’s website.

The Pinkman doll, which is dressed in a yellow hazmat suit, includes a gas mask, chili powder and a tray of blue crystals. It goes for $17.99, inexplicably more than White's.

Let’s reminisce. Here is the famous scene that started it all in which underwear-only clad Walt cooks up his first batch of meth that an incredulous Jesse calls "art." "Actually, it's just basic chemistry," says Walt.

Schrivjer told the Today Show that she was “shocked and appalled” to find the collectible toys on store shelves and that “anything to do with drugs is not doing the right thing.”

On her online petition she wrote that parents shopping with their kids “should not be forced to explain why a certain toy comes with a bag of highly dangerous and illegal drugs or why someone who sells those drugs deserves to be made into an action figure.” By mid-Monday afternoon, the petition had gathered about 3,400 signatures.

One signer wrote, “It's sick that a company would design kids toys that glorify the making of meth.”

Another said, "I thought Toys R Us was 'where a kid can be a kid.' This is totally inappropriate for a kids toy store."

Yet another said, “Since finding out that you decided to sell breaking bad action figures complete with little toy bags of crystal meth we will NOT be shopping at your store."

Not so fast, said Daniel Pickett of Manhattan Beach.

Outraged at the outrage, Pickett started his own Change.org petition calling on the toy company to keep the Breaking Bad figures in the stores.

He said the retailer is wise to remember there are legions of adult collectors who appreciate the ability to buy the figures in a store and not just online. "THANK YOU to Toys R Us for selling toys for “kids” of ALL ages!" wrote Pickett.

His effort gathered more than 1,000 signatures in 24 hours and so far has more than 1,690. By Wednesday morning, it had more than 4,400.

“I’m a collector and a designer of 'adult collector' toys and the last thing we need is a misinformed unwarranted witch hunt,” wrote one person who signed the anti-anti-breaking bad action figure site.

“I am a toy collector and am disgusted by the possibility of people, like myself, losing one of the only national retailers of adult collectibles. Angry Moms would do well to focus on their own family,” wrote another.

“Censorship, of any kind, is disturbing!” said one.

For its part, the toy giant told the media the adult action figures dolls are clearly marked “age 15 and up” and that they are kept in the adult merchandise section.

Schrivjer said she is not against the Breaking Bad series, or the dolls themselves. She said she just wants them to be sold online or by other adult-themed novelty stores and asks that Toys R Us "return to the family focused atmosphere for which they are known."

Was it the right move to pull the action figures?