Ruth Langsford has responded after being in hot water for throwing shade at reality stars.
The star and her husband Eamonn Holmes, both 60, lost their Friday This Morning slot to Alison Hammond, of Big Brother fame, and Dermot O'Leary.
In an interview, Ruth said she and her husband had "put the work in" rather than gaining stardom overnight from reality TV.
Alison's Big Brother co-star Alex Sibley criticised the presenter for the "out of order" dig.
Now Ruth's representative has come forward to clarify this statement wasn't aimed at a particular celebrity.
The comment was apparently an ill-timed observation of what happens in the showbiz industry.
Ruth's representative told MailOnline : "The comments from Ruth were made as a general observation in an interview conducted more than six weeks ago, about the industry and different routes into the business.
"Ruth was simply illustrating a point that whereas some presenters launch their careers by being on other TV programmes first, her and Eamonn's experience and career paths had taken a different and more traditional path.
"This wasn't directed at anyone in particular - indeed she has always been supportive of a number of her professional colleagues and friends who have taken this route."
Ruth and Eamonn's fans were gutted they were axed from This Morning.
They will cover Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby for six weeks during the summer.
But the couple will no longer host Friday daytime TV on This Morning.
In an interview from six weeks ago, Ruth pointed out the TV couple had grafted hard to land their high-flying presenting jobs.
She told The Mirror's Notebook magazine: "We've put the work in. We didn't do a reality show and get an overnight job on the telly.
"We've come up through the ranks. Eamonn was only 19 when he started out. And he was doing the teatime news in Belfast during The Troubles.
"It was heavy stuff. And he's now got an OBE for services to broadcasting."
Alison has also landed her own new podcast with ITV as well as the Friday slot on This Morning.
