Movie franchises are all the rage these days, but there is something to be said about a wildly successful TV franchise. These franchises don't come along all that often, but when one like the Family Guy or the Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchise comes along, fans notice in a hurry.
The Power Rangers franchise has been a fixture on TV for nearly 30 years, and it all started back with the original Rangers in the 90s. Sadly, the environment on set wasn't healthy for everyone, and one actor came forward and spoke about the toxic nature of the original set.
Let's take a look at this classic television franchise and hear about what took place all those years ago.
'Power Rangers' Is A Classic Franchise
In August of 1993, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers made its debut on television, and the world had no idea just how huge this franchise would become in the years that followed. Based on the Japanese television drama, the series caught on with fans and blossomed into a mega-franchise.
Through the years, the Power Rangers have been featured in shows, movies, video games, and comic books. If you could slap a logo on it, you can rest assured that there was a Power Rangers version of it. Simply put, they were everywhere in the 90s, and not a lot has changed since then.
The amazing thing about Power Rangers is that the show is in a constant state of evolution. There are always changes coming for the fans and the Rangers themselves, and many people have had the chance to be a Ranger on the small screen. Because of this, the franchise is entering its 29th season on television.
The series would be nowhere without those original Rangers, and even without a lot of experience to their name, these actors banded together to help kickstart one of the most successful TV franchises in history.
David Yost Played The Blue Ranger
From 1993 to 1996 David Yost played the Blue Ranger on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and the actor was a perfect fit for the character. He was a major reason why the original series was able to successfully launch stateside, and in no time at all, Yost was a thriving television star.
The actor did not have a whole lot of professional experience before landing on Power Rangers, but the casting team clearly saw what he could bring to the show before casting him as Billy.
For 155 episodes, Yost's Billy Cranston was a key piece of the Ranger puzzle, and Yost was giving his all when on camera. The show was so well cast during that initial run, and the actors all seemed to have a great chemistry with one another while the cameras were rolling.
Unfortunately, all was not as it seemed behind the scenes, and Yost would come forward years later and detail some of the toxic things taking place while the cameras weren't rolling on Power Rangers.
What Happened On Set
In 2010, David Yost made headlines when he finally opened up about his time on Power Rangers. The actor let the world know about the homophobic slurs he dealt with while filming the hit show.
"The reason that I walked off is that I was called 'f-----' one too many times. 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. And I'm not supposed to be an actor. And I'm not a superhero," Yost revealed.
The actor also revealed that, "I was kind of worried that I would take my own life, so in order for me to get a handle on what was going on, I needed to leave when I left."
It's quite shocking to hear what was going on behind the scenes, and Yost's departure is completely understandable. There is no place for a workplace to feel unsafe for anyone, and the actor eventually received medical treatment and relocated to Mexico for a year after leaving a facility.
These days, Yost is in a much better place, and he has even guest written for The Hollywood Reporter. Yost was supportive of the 2017 Power Rangers movie, which was far more diverse and inclusive than his iteration was all those years ago.
