In the ultra-sensitive climate of the day, Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson has been moved to apologize for comments he made to MuchMusic regarding the terror attacks in the U.S.

During the band's stop in Toronto for a three-night concert stand (Sept. 12-14), Richardson told MuchMusic that the band -- which lost a crew member in the attacks on New York City and Washington -- was looking for answers.

"I just think we are a little bit of an arrogant nation and maybe this is a little bit of a humbling experience," Richardson told MuchMusic.

"What has our government done to provoke this action, that we don't know about?"

On Friday, Richardson went on New York radio station Z100 to clarify his comments. While apologizing to anyone he may have offended, Richardson said he had completed five back-to-back interviews and had become "overwhelmed with anger and frustration" when MuchMusic asked about the tragedy.

"I said that I think we as a nation may be a little arrogant. Maybe this is a wake-up call for our nation. What I meant by arrogant is that we've been a little overconfident, we've maybe taken our freedom for granted, taken our security for granted," Richardson explained.

In his statement to Z100, Richardson did not address the more controversial element of his statement -- about the U.S. government's culpability in the attack.

"I was reacting out of anger and out of frustration, and I was emotional. I don't want anyone to think that I don't love this country. I'm proud to be an American. I just want to clear that up. I apologize if my comment was untimely," he told Z100.

After the American media picked up on the original quote, a flurry of clarifications were sent out to the media by the band's label, Zomba.

An initial press release seemed to suggest that MuchMusic had pulled a fast one on the Backstreet Boys, saying "because only soundbites for the interview were aired, what viewers saw does not entirely represent Richardson's views."