Why David Yost Left Power Rangers

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Why David Yost Left Power Rangers

Post by That Guy »

So a few days ago, an interview with David Yost, who played Billy in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Power Rangers Zeo, was posted in which he talks about his experiences on the set of Power Rangers, how he got the role, what he's been up to since he left, yada yada yada. But he also reveals that he is gay and explains why he left Power Rangers midway through Zeo. He was evidently constantly being harassed by the producers, to the point where they evidently called his fellow cast members into a meeting a few times to ask them questions about his sexuality. Ultimately, he says, he was called "faggot" one too many times, and he walked off set during lunch one day. He says he was worried that he might take his own life if he continued on, as he was already struggling to figure out who he was and what he was without the constant torment of the production staff. The full interview is available in 3 parts on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KelRKIMRDzA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj44tt8T7HY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmlcuY8bOUk

What happened to him is horrible, and an example of why homophobia or general discrimination against non-heterosexual persons is just plain wrong. What did he do to deserve the treatment he got? His sexual preferences have no bearing on most other facets of his life. He comes off like an all-around fun-loving guy who's easy to get along with and hard to hate. The early 90s was not as nice to homosexuals or other groups as we are now, and we're still not all that nice to them, but that doesn't make it any more justifiable then than it does now. He did nothing to deserve the discrimination and insults thrown his way over the notion that he MIGHT be gay -- it wasn't even confirmed, just a suspicion of the production staff. They came very close to crushing the life and career of someone who turned out to be a great producer and filmmaker just because they suspected he might have a sexual preference for men instead of women. Well, I give him my full support. I can't say Billy was my favorite character on the show, but he was certainly up there. I applaud David Yost for not putting up with that discrimination as well as having the strength to come out of it and rebuild his life and be able to talk about what he is, and I hope he provides a much-needed role model to LGBTI persons.
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Re: Why David Yost Left Power Rangers

Post by Leonite Rider »

Agreed, I only found out about this myself yesterday, but that must've been awfull, and David Yost is a good actor, I liked him as Billy.
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Re: Why David Yost Left Power Rangers

Post by Favine »

I remember see that posted some were about him coming out. But Jason the first red ranger. He was Gay to was he not? I heard he did some Gay film's to. Don't know if it's true or not.

Sad, Next to Zack Billy was my fav power ranger. Growing up wearing glasses. Billy was an idol.
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Re: Why David Yost Left Power Rangers

Post by Leonite Rider »

Favine wrote:I remember see that posted some were about him coming out. But Jason the first red ranger. He was Gay to was he not? I heard he did some Gay film's to. Don't know if it's true or not.

Sad, Next to Zack Billy was my fav power ranger. Growing up wearing glasses. Billy was an idol.
Rumours only, it's all been denied.

Also, to quote Trunacated Power Rangers (the abridged version of PR):
Jason: RUMOURS!!! RUMOURS!!! (Breaks down)
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Re: Why David Yost Left Power Rangers

Post by Favine »

I see. hahaha. Still my child hood hero's growing up can't change that. So is it for us to say that... We have a gay child hood hero? hahahaha as some people would put it. Hell just froze over. Lucky for me i got me ice skate's

All an all i'm happy he final came out and told the work. Blue power ranger FTW
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Re: Why David Yost Left Power Rangers

Post by That Guy »

So we have a gay former power ranger. Big whoop. Doesn't bother me. What bothers me is the way he was treated because of it.
Also, yeah, the "picture" of Austin St. John in a gay porno is somebody else that just kinda looks like him. He retired from acting after a while and went on to become a nurse.
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Re: Why David Yost Left Power Rangers

Post by Favine »

But that's most of America for you. if it's what they believe, then they hate it. But a lot has change since then. The newer generation is all like. "He's gay... what ever fine with me."

I work in a unit that, man it's kind of like... transformer's. I'm 100% sure my unit is about 50% G/L. Me making up .1% of non G/L do not care but there's that other 49.9% that's all like. "Then pole smokers." But there is no true issue. They even think my term for them is Fing sweet. ((A-s assassin." they like it cause it has assassin in it.
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Re: Why David Yost Left Power Rangers

Post by JSoup »

Favine wrote:I remember see that posted some were about him coming out. But Jason the first red ranger. He was Gay to was he not? I heard he did some Gay film's to. Don't know if it's true or not.

Sad, Next to Zack Billy was my fav power ranger. Growing up wearing glasses. Billy was an idol.
I remember hearing a lot of rumors like that about Austin St. John and Jason David Frank, particularly because Jason and Tommy had a serious bromance going on.
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