Veteran journalist Gay Talese is being slammed for sympathetic comments he reportedly made about actor Kevin Spacey.

According to a Vanity Fair story published Tuesday, the 85-year-old writer told the publication he felt sad for Spacey, who is currently embroiled in a sexual misconduct scandal.

"I hate that actor that ruined this guy's career," Talese told Vanity Fair. "So, O.K., it happened 10 years ago ... Jesus, suck it up once in a while