In October, Survivor: Thailand fans saw Ted Rogers make a big blunder. While supposedly half-asleep and dreaming, he nibbled on tribemate Ghandia Johnson's neck, then claimed he'd mistaken her for his spouse! Ghandia faked forgiveness at first, then badmouthed Ted in hopes of ruining his rep. Now, Ted — the show's 12th castoff contestant — answers her charges personally.

"It was an unfortunate and embarrassing mistake on my part," the 37-year-old software developer from Durham, N.C., tells TV Guide Online. "I've had vivid dreams my entire life. Prior to that incident, I dreamt about a lizard attacking me one night, and I was yelling, waving my hands and Mama Jan had to wake me up!"

In other words, Ted's stickin' to his original explanation for molesting Ghandia at camp. "I was having a vivid dream about my wife," he insists, "and because of the proximity of where Ghandia was [lying down], I moved in inappropriately. I take full responsibility for my actions. However, she was accusing me of rape, which is absolutely the worst crime. It was very unfortunate she blew that out of proportion."

Well, Miss Ghandia told us Ted's excuse sounded "lame," suggesting "he wanted a little sugar in his bowl that day." Laughs Ted: "I don't have problems getting sugar, so I didn't need that from her. I wasn't attracted to Ghandia in any way. I did respond to her culturally because we're both African Americans, but my intention was not to get with her."