Adam Lambert performed two songs from his new album on The Early Show on Wednesday. (David M. Russell/CBS/Associated Press) Singer Adam Lambert has defended his provocative performance on Sunday's American Music Awards broadcast, admitting he got carried away but refusing to apologize.

"I do see how people got offended and that was not my intention. My intention was to interpret the lyrics of my song and have a good time with it," the former American Idol finalist CBS's The Early Show in New York on Wednesday.

Lambert performed For Your Entertainment — the title song off his new album of the same name — as the final number of the AMA gala, which ended at close to 11 p.m. ET.

The S&M-inspired production featured the singer in raunchy interactions with his crew, including leading a pair of dancers along on a leash, briefly rubbing a male dancer's face into his crotch, caressing the buttocks of a female dancer and sharing an impromptu kiss with a male keyboardist.

Elements of the performance were cut out of the live show's tape-delayed West Coast broadcast.

Others shocked too: Lambert

Lambert admitted he hadn't included some of the risqué moves in his final rehearsal, but noted that ultimately he wasn't the only artist who had eyebrow-raising elements in an AMA performance.

"Janet Jackson, crotch grab ... I haven't heard one peep about that," he said of the show-opening number, adding that Eminem had rapped about rape and that Lady Gaga's turn on stage included smashing bottles of alcohol.

If it had been a female pop performer doing his number, "I don't think there would be nearly as much of an outrage," Lambert said.

"I think it's because I'm a gay male."

ABC, which broadcast the awards show, said it received about 1,500 complaints about the performance — which it described as a "moderate" response. However, the network's morning show — Good Morning America — cancelled Lambert's scheduled appearance on Wednesday, saying it could not be sure of what he would do.

ABC's cancellation allowed The Early Show to snag Lambert, who also answered questions from fans and performed two songs — prefacing with the statement: "Parents, this is appropriate, I promise."

Adam Lambert, center, performs during the closing act of the American Music Awards on Sunday in Los Angeles. (Matt Sayles/Associated Press) With files from The Associated Press