Breaking Bad Star Dean Norris Speaks Out After X Account Hacked to Promote Scam Memecoin

Breaking Bad Star Dean Norris Speaks Out After X Account Hacked to Promote Scam Memecoin

Dean Norris, widely recognized for his role as Hank Schrader in Breaking Bad, has confirmed that his X (formerly Twitter) account was compromised and used to promote a fraudulent cryptocurrency project. The memecoin, named DEAN, allegedly leveraged Norris’s likeness and name in a pump-and-dump scheme.

In a video posted to his X account on January 26, Norris addressed the incident, calling the memecoin “a complete, fake scam.” The actor expressed frustration over the backlash he received, particularly from Reddit users, saying, “They called me all sorts of shit for something I didn’t do. Go fuck yourselves.”

Although the original promotional post has since been removed, screenshots of the hack, including a manipulated photo of Norris holding a sign featuring the token’s ticker and launch date, have circulated online. The hackers also shared a doctored video where Norris seemingly endorsed the coin, saying, “Hey, it’s me, Dean, and on January 25th, I’m declaring it’s real.”

Speculation online suggests the video may have been either an AI-generated deepfake or an out-of-context clip purchased via Cameo, a platform where celebrities create personalized videos for fans. Norris is an active user of the service.

According to data from blockchain tracker DexScreener, the DEAN memecoin briefly surged to a market cap of approximately $8.43 million on January 25. However, the value has since plummeted by over 96%, dropping to under $60,000.

Norris, who rarely uses X and does not maintain a Telegram account, clarified in a follow-up statement: “I didn’t know I was hacked until I started getting texts from friends saying it’s out there.”

This is not the first time Norris’s account has been exploited for cryptocurrency scams. A similar incident occurred in November, which blockchain investigator ZachXBT linked to a broader hacking campaign targeting high-profile accounts, including McDonald’s, Usher, and Norris himself.

The hacking incident also follows the frenzy surrounding former President Donald Trump’s surprise memecoin launch on January 18, which briefly pushed the token’s market cap to nearly $9 billion.

As the popularity of memecoins continues to grow, incidents like these highlight the vulnerabilities celebrities face in the digital age and the need for greater vigilance against scams exploiting their public personas.