The KKK issued threats and backlash against the cast of 'Barney' over the show.

In the early '90s, "Barney & Friends" was a huge success, but life behind the scenes wasn't always "I Love You and You Love Me" for the cast and crew.

The "Generation Barney" podcast, a seven-part series from Connecticut Public, examines the impact of the show on its audience and those involved in its production. During the show's peak popularity, the podcast revealed that the cast and crew faced criticism over the character of the purple dinosaur, which was perceived as too child-friendly.

In the third episode of the series, Bob West, who voiced "Barney," stated that certain messages people sent were threatening.

A few times, my email address was leaked and he took note of it.

West stated that receiving a death threat from a middle school child via email does not make him feel bad for himself, but rather for the child, as it suggests they are going through a difficult situation that is causing them to behave in such a way.

Barney’s suit performer David Joyner received hate as well.

""I don't understand why some people feel the need to hate," he said."

As Joyner recounted his experience at a parade in New York, he remembered being on a float wearing a costume when he heard a man shouting, "I hate you Barney! F--- you, Barney!" amidst a sea of people.

The actor attempted to de-escalate the situation by saying, "I believed I needed to turn this man around, so I began pounding my heart like a heartbeat and then bent over in front of him." He continued to gesture with a heart motion and said "I love you" in combination with the bow.

"If you get a death threat from a middle school child who sends you an email, then it doesn't make me feel bad for me. It makes me feel bad for them." — Bob West, original voice of Barney

""Sometimes it’s just about changing opinions," Joyner said, adding the crowd cheered as well. "By the time the float gets to him, he's like, 'Ugh, I love you Barney,'" he added."

From 1991 to 2001, Joyner wore the costume and faced racially charged backlash from the Ku Klux Klan.

In the second episode, he shared that he received a call from a news reporter from his hometown, the Decatur Herald & Review, who asked him to comment on an article in Esquire magazine.

"The Klan discovered that the person wearing the Barney costume on TV was African American, so they banned their children from watching the show again."

Joyner shared his thoughts on the story and admitted to laughing at the idea.

"I said, 'Well, it's the Klan, and I can't change their opinion.' And he asks, 'What do you mean you laughed?'"

He added, "Our goal is to embody love. If someone is attempting to convey hate, the last thing they want is to be loved. And if someone's skin color alters their opinion, I am powerless to change it because that is how it is."

For 10 years, Joyner wore the Barney costume despite the negativity, until he relocated to Los Angeles to pursue other acting opportunities.

The now 61-year-old also became a tantric massage specialist and spiritual healer.

In 2018, he revealed to Vice that he employed his tantra training of deep meditation to cope with the grueling hours spent in the 70-pound Barney costume. He attributed the practice to helping him maintain "an abundance of joy" while wearing the costume in hot conditions.

"I said, 'Well, it's the Klan and I can't change their opinion.'" — David Joyner, Barney costume performer

The actor David Joyner, who played Barney in the popular TV show "Dinosaurs," has become a TANTRIC sex healer.

In 2022, for the 30th anniversary of the show, Director Tommy Avallone discussed Joyner's philosophy with Planet Chronicle Digital.

"Barney's explanation of sex was more than what we expected. He explained it as meditation and energy work. He tried to push this energy through the television, as strange as it may sound, to connect with children."

Barney's performance was heightened through energy work and meditation, not sex, as Avallone emphasized.

The 2022 docuseries "I Love You, You Hate Me" explored the darker aspects of the PBS series.

Stephen White, head writer of "Generation Barney," stated that the team was not overly worried about the negative feedback they received.

White stated that we were too preoccupied with creating the show to be overly concerned with the opinions of critics and trolls. Additionally, we were confident in the project's integrity, which was from top to bottom.

"The "Barney" community was like a family, and we all knew our purpose of making a wholesome show. When we faced criticisms, it was easier to dismiss them."