Jewel backpedals on Melissa ‘Dancing’ criticism

Singer compared dancers to rodeo stars, saying they should perform hurt

ABC

Melissa Rycroft didn't perform on the most recent "Dancing With the Stars" episode. Singer Jewel, who's married to contestant Ty Murray, said Rycroft should have performed with her injury, like rodeo participants do.

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updated 8:28 p.m. ET May 1, 2009

LOS ANGELES - Jewel has taken to her MySpace page to set the record straight after making comments Wednesday on husband Ty Murray’s MySpace about “Dancing With the Stars” contestant Melissa Rycroft.

“Gossip columns hijacked and put words in my mouth!” she wrote on Friday. “I like Melissa and think she’s gifted… and I adore Steve-O. My comment had nothing to do with either of them.”

On Wednesday, Jewel, who left “Dancing” due to injuries prior to the season premiere, seemed confused about the show’s judges grading Melissa’s rehearsal, as she was too injured to perform. The same system was applied to Steve-O earlier this season.

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“Being a rodeo and bull riding fan it’s hard for me to get used to someone who is injured still getting a score,” she wrote on Wednesday. “As bad as I felt for Melissa, who I hope feels better and comes back, I’m used to our cowboy athletes live by the rule: ‘ride hurt or don’t get a score.’ It may seem harsh, but it seems like the only way to keep things honest.”

But on Friday, Jewel defended her comments, claiming that she was confused by the system ’ not its participants.

“Name another sport where if you can’t compete, they use your score from practice,” she wrote. “Can you imagine an Olympic diver who can’t compete for any reason, and so they let them use their practice dives from that day?”

“This isn’t a catty girl versus girl thing they are trying to make it into,” she continued. “Neither I nor Melissa are like that.”