A Colorado state lawmaker is blaming the “mainstream media” and the mother of a Cub Scout for “reviving the controversy” behind comments she made in 2013 that seemingly linked higher mortality rates among African-Americans to their food choices, including barbecue and fried chicken.

In an op-ed on Tuesday in the Denver Post, state Sen. Vicki Marble, a Republican who represents Fort Collins, denied “lying” to a group of Cub Scouts during an Oct. 9 event in Broomfield, saying 11-year-old Ames Mayfield — who was kicked out of his den after the event — “mischaracterized” her previous comments that some colleagues said were racially insensitive.

“I told him that the popular media narrative didn’t happen, because it didn’t include the context in which those comments were made,” Marble wrote. “My answer explained, clarified and corrected the record.”

Marble accused the newspaper of nevertheless perpetuating “the myth” surrounding the comments she made during a legislative hearing in 2013 on racial disparities and poverty rates.

“When you look at life expectancy, there are problems in the black race,” Marble said in 2013, according to the Denver Post. “Sickle-cell anemia is something that comes up. Diabetes is something that’s prevalent in the genetic makeup, and you just can’t help it.”

Marble continued: “Although I’ve got to say, I’ve never had better barbecue and better chicken and ate better in my life than when you go down South and you, I mean, I love it. Everybody loves it.”

The comments, along with questions about gun control, were referenced by fifth-grader Ames during the den-organized event, with the boy saying he was “astonished” that Marble blamed poor health among black people on their food choices.

“I didn’t,” Marble replied. “That was made up by the media. So, you want to believe it? You believe it. But that’s not how it went down. I didn’t do that. That was false. Get both sides of the story.”

In her op-ed, Marble said she enjoyed answering the questions posed by the Cub Scouts that day, adding they were “no different” from others she gets at different venues. She also took a shot at the boy’s mother, Lori Mayfield, who posted videos of the exchange online, as well as the Denver Post.

“Taped snippets of my comments were posted by a politically motivated mom on YouTube and shared with a ‘progressive’ hit group, in obvious hopes of reviving the controversy,” Marble wrote. “Those looking to exploit the moment for political gain must have been hoping that some easily manipulated members of the ‘mainstream media’ would willingly play their part. And they have, with the Denver Post leading the pack.”

A source close to the Boy Scouts told The Post Wednesday that new unit has been found for the boy.

“We are pleased this matter has been resolved to the satisfaction of the family,” the organization said in a statement. “Beyond that, we have nothing to add to what we previously shared, as we do not share personal details about our current or former youth members.”

In a statement to The Post last week, the organization said it “does not promote any one political, candidate or philosophy.”

Ames has been removed from his den. Dens are groups of children in first through fifth grade that make up larger packs within the organization. He’s now joining a den in a new pack at his church, his mother has said.

Marble, meanwhile, claimed her critics “aren’t interested in any explanation” that conflicts with their preset narrative.

“All they want is to politically damage those who stand firm on conservative principles,” she wrote. “Any explanation I offer will be unacceptable to them, given how wedded they are to one narrative.”

Marble said she doesn’t blame Ames for asking the questions, especially since she believes there was an “element of manipulation involved,” without elaborating.

“I understand how other parents or den leaders might not have appreciated one mom’s attempt to exploit the moment for political purposes, or to share the unauthorized tape nationally without the knowledge or permission of den leaders or other parents, given that the Scouts are a politically neutral organization,” Marble continued. “Decisions about who is in or out of a den are internal matters of a private organization, which it is entitled to make free from outside political or media pressure.”

Marble also referenced President Trump in her op-ed, saying coverage of the story by the Denver Post’s opinion page is “another example of why so many Americans don’t seem to mind when President Trump pushes back against the biased bullies in the press corps.”

With Post wires