Blue Power Ranger star David Yost reveals two years of gay conversion therapy caused him to have a breakdown
Daivd Yost played the Blue Power Ranger in the 1990s (Saban Entertainment)
David Yost who played the Blue Power Ranger in the 1990s hit show, has revealed that gay conversion therapy caused him to have a mental breakdown.
The 49-year-old quit the franchise at the height of its success after being subjected to homophobic abuse, however he was still unable to accept his sexuality, so endured two years of gay conversion therapy.
He told Out In Perth: “The conversion therapy I had done that quite religiously for two years which, unfortunately, caused a nervous breakdown because I was actively working against the truth of who I was.
David Yost who played the Blue Power Ranger in the 1990s has revealed that two years of gay conversion therapy led to his mental breakdown (Instagram/DavidYost)
“Mentally, I couldn’t take it anymore.”
He added: “After my nervous breakdown it took me years to be comfortable and really be open about myself. It wasn’t an overnight process and it took a long time to be happy and comfortable.”
Despite walking away from a team that bullied him, Yost insists that what went on behind the scenes mustn’t ruin it for fans.
He said: “I’m a part of a show that has become iconic over the last 25 years and I want the fans of the show to really focus on all the positive things that they got out of the show, and not on the stuff that goes on behind the scenes.”
The actor, 49, revealed that he quit the show after being the victim of homophobic abuse from the people he worked with (Instagram/DavidYost)
Yost originally opened up about walking away from Power Rangers in 2010, when he recalled his “humiliating” experience.
Speaking at the Anime Festival Orlando 2010, he said he fell out with the show’s production team and creators because of his sexuality.
He said that his co-stars were repeatedly quizzed about what they knew about his sexuality, and he was also the victim of vile homophobic abuse.
“I walked off set one day during the middle of lunch – I had made a decision, I had been thinking about it for a good week, and the reason I walked off was because I was called faggot one too many times,” explained Yost.
“I had heard that several times while working on the show from creators, producers, writers, directors.
“It’s not that people can’t talk about me, and have their opinion about me – but continuing to work in an environment like that is really difficult.
“I myself was struggling with who I was, or what I was, and to be made fun of on some level, or to be stereotyped, or put into a category – I felt like I was continually being told I’m not worthy of where I am because I’m ‘a gay person’ and I’m not supposed to be an actor and can’t be a superhero.”
Yost is finally comfortable with his sexuality (Instagram/DavidYost)
He added: “That’s the vibe I was getting. I know my co-stars were getting called in a couple times to different producers’ offices to be questioned about my sexuality, which is a humiliating experience.
“There were a lot of issues – it felt like a bad marriage. I could either stay and finish six more months, or just go – and I was worried about my life.
“I was worried I might take my own life, and in order to get a handle in what was going on, I needed to leave when I left. That’s why I left the show.”
