VIDEO Blue Power Ranger David Yost quit because he was a Power Rump Ranger?

In a recent interview with Power Rangers fan site No Pink Spandex actor David Yost talked about his role as the nerdy Billy Cranston (and blue Power Ranger) on the popular kids’ superhero television show from 1993 to 1996.

During the interview the 41-year-old Yost admits that he is homosexual and he left the show due to harassment and discrimination he received because of his sexuality.

“I was called ‘f*ggot’ one too many times [by the show’s] creators, producers, writers, directors,” Yost says in the interview.

He goes on to say, “I know that my costars were called in a couple of times to different producers’ offices and questioned about my sexuality, which is kind of a humiliating experience to find that out.”

Yost says he often considered taking his own life because of the immense amount of stress caused by the harassment and even entered a religious conversion program called program ‘Pray the Gay Away.’ As you might expect, the program didn’t work and Yost eventually suffered a nervous breakdown.

Here is the full interview recorded at Anime Festival 2010 in Orlando. Yost begins to talk about his sexuality and the on-set discrimination at the beginning of part 3:

David Yost No Pink Spandex interview Part 1

David Yost No Pink Spandex interview Part 2

David Yost No Pink Spandex interview Part 3

It’s amazing that Yost’s sexuality comes as a big surprise to anyone – I thought after a certain age everyone thinks the Power Rangers are gay.

That being said, I hope there is some sort of legal recourse open to Yost for such bigoted behavior! I’m glad to see that he seems to have found peace with his own sexuality, but I hate to think the actions of those cast and crew members will go completely unpunished.

Top photo compiled by RangerCentral.com