David Yost, who played the original
Blue Power Ranger on the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, says he quit
the show over anti-gay slurs.
In a video interview posted last week
on the fan site No
Pink Spandex, the 41-year-old Yost said he was harassed for being
gay and contemplated suicide. Yost walked off the set in 1996.
“The reason that I walked off is that
I was called faggot one too many times,” he said.
“I had just heard that several times
while working on the show from creators, producers, writers,
directors. … I, myself, was struggling with who I was and what I
was. … Basically, I just felt like I was continually being told I
was not worthy of being where I am because I'm a gay person.”
Yost said he was humiliated to find out
that his co-stars were questioned by producers about his sexuality.
“I was kind of worried that I would
take my own life,” he added.
A nervous breakdown followed his
departure, but Yost said he's doing better now that he's working
behind the camera.