CONFESSION

‘Reading Rainbow’ Host Breaks Silence After Psychiatric Hold

Mychal Threets first announced his mental health struggles on social media on August 17.

Mychal Threets, the beloved host of PBS’s Reading Rainbow, made his first public comments since he checked himself into a hospital after admitting publicly that he was “not okay.” “I just wanted to apologize for worrying so many people,” Threets, 36, told followers in a video shared to Threads. “I just got back from a five-day stay at the hospital, a five-day psychiatric hold. I haven’t been OK for what feels like a very, very long time. I am not OK. But I have hope that I will get to OK.” The librarian thanked medical professionals for saving his life, and his fans for sticking around. “Thank you for being you. Thank you for staying. Maybe I’ll see you at the library. I’ll see you tomorrow. I love you.” Threets first announced his mental health struggles on Threads on August 17, writing, “I am not okay. Maybe I’ll never be okay. I’m seeking help. Going to the hospital tomorrow. In this moment I am safe. By God’s grace.”