The Jewish Chronicle, the venerable newspaper for British Jews, fell hook, line and sinker for a malicious cyberslur concerning Tommy Hilfiger, the US fashion designer.

In its gossip column, the paper printed "wild rumour allegations that Hilfiger made offensive comments about ethnic minorities wearing his clothes," Jewish.co.uk reports.

Trouble is, these allegations have been floating around cyberspace for a few years and are entirely untrue.

Tommy Hilfiger, according to this cyber-hoax, made 'innappropriate' racial comments on, variously, Oprah Winfrey, Larry King Live or on CNN's Style with Elsa Klensch. But Hilfiger has never appeared on any of these shows, as his company points out.

Tommy Hilfiger International is furious with the way the Jewish Chronicle has handled its mistake, according to Jewish.co.uk.

In a letter to the paper, CEO Joel Horowitz writes: "Your cavalier approach to a mistake of serious proportions - printing an ugly and malicious rumour as fact, without checking its veracity beforehand in the slightest - is troubling journalism and troubling Judaism.

"Tommy Hilfiger wants consumers of all races and religions to wear and enjoy his clothing. When the JC is dealing with someone's reputation and makes a highly visible and disastrous mistake, is it enough to say 'Oops' in a small correction?'"

The Jewish Chronicle declines to comment, Jewish.co.uk reports. ®