“The Young and the Restless” actor Eric Braeden fired back at “How I Met Your Mother”‘s Neil Patrick Harris over a Twitter rant that included the “d-bag” insult.
Earlier Friday, NPH called Braeden a “d-bag” for backing out of a scheduled cameo on the CBS sitcom at the last minute. Braeden had previously guested as Robin Scherbatsky, Sr, father to Cobie Smulder’s Robin, and had apparently been asked back for a sixth season episode.
According to NPH’s Twitter, the “d-bag” Braeden “agreed to a cameo, then last night bailed, saying the part wasn’t ‘substantial’ enough.” He noted that Ray Wise was tapped as a replacement, calling the “Twin Peaks” performer, “a fantastic actor who makes any part ‘substantial’.”
Braeden, however, dismissed Harris in a statement posted on Deadline, explaining, “I have been in this business for 50 years, have seen so many actors come and go…most of them never to be seen or heard from again. I suggest whoever this young fellow is that he enjoy his success and count his blessings and save his money.”
Forgiving NPH due to “Christmastime,” he nonetheless added, “My first time on [How I Met] I enjoyed working with the writers, directors, and crew enormously. However, I did not have the pleasure of meeting most of the cast, including this fellow who put his foot in his mouth by saying what he did.”
Braeden suggested that his withdrawal from the part had to do with exhaustion, explaining, “I have been overworked at Y&R. I have been doing 40 and 50 pages a day.” He also said he had no idea on the nature of the “How I Met” part until the day before scheduled shooting.
Later Friday, Neil Patrick Harris Tweeted, “Now I feel bad for the D-bag comment. Don’t know the guy personally. I’m just fiercely protective of our show.”