"The Young and the Restless" perennial Eric Braeden said Neil Patrick Harris needs "a little spanking" after the "How I Met Your Mother" star called him a "D-Bag" for bailing out on a guest appearance.
"Eric Braeden is a D-Bag," Harris tweeted Friday. "The actor, (Robin's dad) agreed to a cameo, then last night bailed, saying the part wasn't 'substantial' enough."
Braeden appeared in a 2008 episode of the show in which his character tried, in flashbacks, to make his daughter more boyish.
In an interview with TheWrap, Braeden said he had nothing but respect for the cast and crew of the show, but that Harris was unprofessional to criticize him.
"I've seen these young whippersnappers come and go. Most of them go," said Braeden, 69. "So he'd better save his money."
He added: "What he needs is a little spanking. … Be careful what you say. You never know when you'll encounter someone again."
Braeden said he was looking forward to his appearance on the show, but learned just the day before he was to shoot his cameo that he would only have two lines.
"I don't do two lines for anyone," he said.
He also said he has been doing 40 to 50 pages a day for his role on "Y&R" and is recovering from hip surgery.
Three hours after his initial tweet, but before Braeden's remarks, 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."
Harris also tweeted that the role has gone to "Twin Peaks" and "Reaper" star Ray Wise, "a fantastic actor who makes any part 'substantial'. Super excited to welcome him to the family!"
