Michael Douglas denies remarks about oral sex causing his cancer

Michael Douglas has denied that he said his throat cancer was caused by oral sex.

The actor's representative Allen Burry told the Associated Press that Douglas was talking about the causes of the type of cancer he had, but not the cause of his cancer specifically.

Douglas was said to have made the remarks during an interview with The Guardian's film writer Xan Brooks.

“In a discussion with the newspaper,” said Burry, “they talked about the causes of oral cancer, one of which was oral sex, which is noted and has been known for a while now.”

[Tommy Chong says he's beaten cancer using marijuana]

In response, however, The Guardian has said that it stands by the quote, and that the actor was not misrepresented in any way.

“The Guardian firmly denies this charge of misrepresentation,” it said in a story published on its website.

“Mr Burry was not present at the Guardian's interview with Michael Douglas; the only two people present were Mr Douglas and the Guardian writer, Xan Brooks.”

[McKellen reveals he has prostate cancer]

It then goes on to publish the audio of the interview, and the transcript of the comment, which goes as follows:

Brooks: “Do you feel, in hindsight, that you overloaded your system? Overloaded your system with drugs, smoking, drink?”

Douglas: “No. No. Ah, without getting too specific, this particular cancer is caused by something called HPV, which actually comes about from cunnilingus.”

The actor was promoting new film 'Behind the Candelabra', where he plays flamboyant entertainer Liberace. Matt Damon co-stars as his secret lover Scott Thorson.  Watch Douglas in action in our exclusive clip below.