Aaron Carter says his comments about not wanting to date Dancing With the Stars partner Karina Smirnoff were taken out of context.
While chatting with 104.3 MY FM’s Valentine in the Morning on Monday, Carter, 21, said he would not want "to be in that category" of men who have romanced Smirnoff, 30. "I'm sorry, but I'm not that guy," he said. "I don't got that kind of time."
But Carter tells Usmagazine.com he has "the utmost respect" for Smirnoff, who recently called off her engagement to Makism Chmerkovskiy. He says he was only trying to be "professional" by saying he's not "trying to hook up" with anyone on the show.
"She's amazing," Carter says of Smirnoff. "I'm sorry if it was misunderstood as being negative in any way towards Karina. Fortunately, she understood what was meant and that sometimes things are taken and repeated out of context."
He also wants fans to realize he was only joking when he said "there are no if’s, and’s or but’s … I’m going to win Dancing with the Stars."
Carter tells Us, "The DJ and I were having a humorous conversation, and my sense of humor and high energy seemed to translate into being overly confident.
"Of course, I hope to win — it is a competition," he adds. "But my castmates are unbelievably dedicated, talented and competitive. It is anybody's game at this point!"
