Aaron Paul Reveals 'Emotional Promise' with His Daughter, What Was It?

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Renowned actor Aaron Paul, best known for his role as Jesse Pinkman in the phenomenal series "Breaking Bad," recently made headlines.

He shared a touching personal story about an "emotional pact" he made with his daughter, Story Annabelle.

The revelation of this heartfelt promise took place at the Wall Street Journal Tech Live 2025 conference in Napa Valley, California, on November 4th.

Paul explained that the moment was sparked by a deep awareness of the impact his phone use was having on his interactions with his daughter.

Aaron Paul's promise is not just a personal commitment, but also a powerful message for parents around the world.

He emphasizes the importance of being fully present and not letting devices take over precious moments with children.

"Breaking Bad" star Aaron Paul tells WSJ Tech Live about the moment he realized his smartphone was compromising his relationships. pic.twitter.com/U8WklKIpuC

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) November 6, 2025

The incident that changed Aaron Paul's perspective occurred when his seven-year-old daughter, Story Annabelle, approached him with a question.

At the time, Paul was busy completing a short email on his phone.

After receiving no immediate response from his father, his daughter left and began playing by herself without saying anything.

This simple yet profound moment "broke Paul's heart" and brought him to a full realization.

“My daughter comes running in and she's asking me a question,” Aaron recalled in a clip from WSJ Tech Live posted to Instagram Nov. 5.

“I’m trying to just finish this quick email. Then she stopped asking and she kind of went and started playing.”

He realized how his phone use had unconsciously created distance and disrupted important interactions with his child.

Paul felt guilty for not giving his daughter his full attention when she needed it.

Upon realizing his mistake, Aaron Paul immediately put down his phone and approached his daughter.

He apologized for his unresponsiveness and proposed a "pact" that changed everything.

Paul promised his daughter that he would no longer use his phone while they were together, a sincere commitment from a father.

“‘I want to say I'm sorry for not being responsive to you,’” he recalled.

“And I go, ‘I want to make a pact with you right now. I want to promise Daddy's not gonna be on his phone when he's with you anymore.’”

His daughter's reaction to this promise was both touching and unexpected.

Story Annabelle responded with only one word, "Really?" Paul described how, upon hearing this promise, his daughter immediately hugged him tightly as if she had "won the ultimate prize."

On this occasion, Aaron Paul emphasized the importance of full parental presence and not letting technology control family interactions.

He stated, "We owe it to our children to at least try," and that "You can choose whether technology controls you; you must control technology."

Paul himself has long held an ambivalent view of technology, considering it both a blessing and a curse.

He even prides himself on not owning a personal computer and rarely using his cell phone.

This commitment is not new, but rather part of his broader life philosophy of controlling technology, not being controlled by it.

Paul's comments have resonated widely online, prompting many users to share their own struggles in balancing digital life with real-world presence.

Some praised his commitment as a father, while others highlighted the importance of teaching patience to children in this digital age.

Paul, along with his wife, Lauren Parsekian, also has a son, Ryden Caspian, who was born in April 2022, completing their happy family.