The man who Carrot Top‘s legal team claims tried to extort the comedian with a sexually explicit recording is speaking out … and he claims he never threatened to release the video ahead of his suicide attempt.

In response to the Sept. 3 filing … Brian Evans tells TMZ … that the USB drive recording the lawsuit mentions had already been deleted.

He tells TMZ … “I never threatened – ever – to post any video anywhere in exchange for a settlement. … The video they are discussing – as I made very clear – was deleted a long time ago in accordance with the prior settlement.”

Brian said of the situation with Carrot Top — whose real name is Scott Thompson — that he was “sorry that Scott apparently did something to hurt himself.”

He added … “I do not consider Scott to be a bad person … based on what I know – but he made a few decisions that were not good ones. That is not a reason to hurt himself.”

He went on to say … “Finally, it’s not my fault … that Scott did what he did. We don’t even actually know what he did. He survived and I am glad about that. Scott is still young and has a big life ahead of him. It’s not my intent to bring this guy down. It’s the opposite.”

We reported earlier … the 61-year-old’s attorney claims Brian said he would enter the alleged recording into a court’s legal docket … unless CT’s legal team forked over $500,000 in a settlement payment.

As for Carrot Top … the prop-based comedian remains hospitalized following his suicide attempt Friday.