Neilson Barnard/Getty ImagesCarson Kressley couldn't resist taking a jab at Queer Eye's new Fab Five on Monday.
The Queer Eye for the Straight Guy alum weighed in on the reboot's Emmy nomination during an interview with Variety at the Television Academy's 70th celebration in Los Angeles.
"I'm thrilled that they're nominated," the original fashion guru said, "but it was a little more groundbreaking back when we won an Emmy in 2004."
On Thursday, Kressley clarified his comment to E! News and reassured he meant no ill will.
"I loved being a part of the original Queer Eye, and I love the reboot," he told E! News. "When I said the original was more groundbreaking, it only meant that the original aired in an era when there was far less representation of gay people on television. We have come a long way, and I am very proud to have passed the torch to the wonderful and talented new cast."
Kressley appeared on the original program with Ted Allen, Kyan Douglas, Thom Filicia and Jai Rodriguez from about 2003 to 2007. The Bravo series received several Emmy nominations and took home the trophy for Outstanding Reality Program in 2004.
Netflix rebooted the series in early 2018 and debuted a new cast, including Karamo Brown, Antoni Porowski, Bobby Berk, Jonathan Van Ness and Tan France. The show is up for four Emmys this year.
Even style savant France has admitted the program has evolved since its original debut.
"The original show was fighting for tolerance," he said in the season one trailer. "Our fight is for acceptance."
Despite the dig, Kressley, told Variety he just feels "lucky" to work in TV today.
"It's really having a renaissance right now," he said, "and [is] so inclusive and diverse."
Queer Eye season three is set to return to Netflix in 2019.