Actor David Yost is most popular for his role as Billy Cranston in the ’90s hit American series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. The show followed a close-knit band of teenagers in fictional Angel Grove, California who transform into a uniformed team of superheroes ready to take on villains. The series touched a chord with many young adults and became a pop culture phenomenon with a large line of toys and other merchandise being created in its name.
The show also made David Yost a household celebrity. But the actor who is openly gay revealed the challenges he faced to come out of the closet during the ‘90s and his struggles to be accepted for his sexual orientation. Yost bared his soul about his experiences during the release of Netflix’s 30th Anniversary special of the show, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Now and Always.
Also Read: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always Review: Campy, Heartfelt Tribute
David Yost Praises Gay Representation In Netflix Anniversary Special
Netflix released a 30th Anniversary special movie of the popular ‘90s superhero series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and actor David Yost is all praise for it. Yost, who starred in the original series and reprised his role in the Netflix film, expressed his happiness about the film’s sensitivity to represent the LGBTQ+ community. The openly gay actor referred to a scene in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once and Always in which Minh Kawn the daughter of the original Yellow Ranger, Trini Kwan helps a man and his boyfriend fight off some Putty Patrollers. Speaking of the scene, Yost said,
I think it’s great that we add an element like that obviously into where we are because it’s so important that people do see representation. It’s taken a long time to get there. So to have it in this special I think is great, and to just have it be like it’s just an everyday thing, I think is awesome”.
Yost further added that with changing times, it was heartwarming to see the level of acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community and their appropriate representation in films without cliches or stereotypes.
Also Read: 10 Power Rangers Facts We All Failed To Notice When We Were Kids
David Yost Was Bullied For His Sexual Orientation
The sensitive representation of the LGBTQ+ community in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once and Always is a personal win for David Yost. The gay actor who became popular in the original television series confessed that he faced multiple challenges for his sexual orientation back in the ‘90s and had to endure brutal bullying for the same by crew members which made him almost take drastic measures. The actor spoke of these tumultuous times and said,
“I struggled and struggled and struggled with it. And unfortunately, I had a nervous breakdown and I checked into a hospital for five weeks and sorta had to start the process of learning to accept myself, which was very difficult; it took me many years after the fact.”
Yost admitted that he was extremely happy to have risen above these challenges and was thrilled to see that LGBTQ+ relationships were normalized on screen without judgment in the 30th Anniversary special of his hit television series.
Also Read: 10 Facts About Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Movie
Source: CBR
