Justin Guarini, who was the runner-up to Kelly Clarkson in the first season of American Idol back in 2002, is leading a very different life than he was a decade ago. But the singer says that contrary to news reports after a recent blog post, he is “nowhere near poverty.”

On Wednesday, Guarini wrote a lengthy blog post on his site, in which he wrote about his life with his wife, Reina Capodici, and their two sons. In the post, he wrote that he spends “days skipping meals in order to make sure I have enough. To make sure my children and my wife have enough.” That was the quote that drew People magazine’s interest and was used in their headline. It spawned stories around the web and speculation that Guarini was living in poverty.

But, as CinemaBlend notes, Guarini tweeted that this is not the case at all. “Obviously you completely missed the point of my letter @peoplemag,” he wrote. “News isn't news anymore, and I'm nowhere near poverty. #twistedmytruth.”

Guarini’s site is currently down, but he apologized for that, noting, “Massive amounts of traffic. I'll be up and running ASAP.” He also retweeted fans who have shown their support.

Guarini’s letter included plenty of good news worthy of attention, though. “I have a wife whom I love and who loves me (me!) and who lifts me up. Children who give me cherubic-lippped kisses before I leave for work and who are the most delicious morsels of joy and peace and prosperity,” he wrote.

On top of that, he’s focusing on acting now. He’s going to be on Broadway in a new Romeo & Juliet production that will star Orlando Bloom and Condola Rashad. The production opens on Aug. 24.

So, while Guarini's life is very different than his From Justin To Kelly days, clearly he’s enjoying the changes.

image: Wikimedia Commons