Journalist Gay Talese Tells Kevin Spacey’s Accusers To ‘Suck It Up’

Famed writer and author Gay Talese has a message for Kevin Spacey’s accusers: the A-list actor shouldn’t have to suffer just because you couldn’t handle a little (alleged) sexual harassment.

Vanity Fair got the opportunity to cover the Library Lions Gala, a private event at the New York Public Library, for high-profile characters in the literary world, and Talese was, of course, invited. The topic on everyone’s mind was the sexual harassment scandals tearing through Hollywood. Talese’s take was … unique … when asked what current event he’d most like to cover right now.

“I would like to talk to Kevin Spacey,” he said — but not because he’d like to get the actor’s response to his accusers, which now include nearly a dozen male actors.

“I feel so sad, and I hate that actor that ruined this guy’s career,” continued Talese. “So, O.K., it happened 10 years ago … Jesus, suck it up once in a while!”

Vanity Fair excused the author’s sentiments by saying that it’s possible Talese hadn’t been keeping up with the news. But it seems Talese doesn’t have a sense of what actor Anthony Rapp accused Spacey of doing, despite Rapp being the first of several actors to go public with sexual harassment claims against the A-lister. Rapp says Spacey came on to him sexually when he was just 14 years old, picking the young actor up and tossing him on his bed, then getting on top of Rapp and pressing into him.

Since then, yes, more actors have come forward. Harry Dreyfuss, Richard Dreyfuss’ son, alleges that Spacey came on to him, rubbing his thigh and groping him, while Dreyfuss’ father was in the room. Eight crew members on House of Cards alleged the star sexually harassed them.

But according to Talese, that should all be forgiven — after all, Spacey’s such a great actor, it would be a shame for the movie business to lose him just because he’s pervy.

“I would like to ask [Spacey] how it feels to lose a lifetime of success and hard work all because of 10 minutes of indiscretion 10 years or more ago,” Talese went on. “You know something, all of us in this room at one time or another did something we’re ashamed of. The Dalai Lama has done something he’s ashamed of. The Dalai Lama should confess … put that in your magazine!”