Michael Douglas denies blaming oral sex for his cancer

The actor's comments swept the internet but 'Behind the Candelbra' star said issued a statement to clarify his previous remarks

Michael Douglas did not say he developed throat cancer because of oral sex, his publicist has said.

Douglas, who was diagnosed with cancer three years ago, was quoted as telling the Guardian that his disease was caused by HPV (human papillomavirus).

But in a statement to the BBC, the spokesperson of the 68-year-old actor clarified through an email that Douglas was not talking about his own cancer.

The publicist referred to medical evidence linking oral sex to head and neck cancer, adding that Douglas did not say it was the cause to his specific cancer.

The Guardian however stood by its story, releasing the audio of the interview.

In the British newspaper's article on Sunday, Douglas was asked if, given his illness, he regretted his years of smoking and drinking.

The actor replied that the particular cancer is caused by HPV, which actually comes about from cunnilingus.

He added that it's a sexually transmitted disease that causes cancer.