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David Yost says conversion therapy led him to breakdown

In 1993, the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers became an international pop culture sensation. 25 years later, David Yost, who played Billy the Blue Ranger, reflects on the experience in a new interview with OUT In Perth.

Looking back, 49-year-old Yost says he didn’t realize he was part of a “phenomenon” at the time.

“For me, I was just going to work at my job that I enjoyed doing as an actor,” he says. “I enjoyed doing all of that, but the phenomenon on a world level I didn’t quite grasp until now.”

“It’s hard to take it all in,” he continues. “It’s sort of mind boggling. At the time, I didn’t really take it all in. I didn’t quite understand what was going on.”

In 2010, Yost revealed the reason he quit the show during the height of its popularity was due to the homophobic harassment he suffered from the other cast members. After leaving, he spent two years going to conversion therapy in an effort to change his sexuality.

“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,” he recalls. “Mentally, I couldn’t take it anymore.”

He continues, “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.”

Today, he’s much happier. He has accepted his sexuality and no longer dwells on the homophobia he experienced on the set of Power Rangers.

“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,” he says.

And as for whether he still fits into his original blue ranger Power Rangers suit, Yost has this to say: “I don’t know where the original blue suit is, but right now where I am physically yes; I’m pretty close to my Power Rangers original weight!”

Original article, Graham Gremore

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