When Tommy Hilfiger decided to come on the Oprah show just recently, I thought it was for the second time. But, apparently it was Tommy’s first time on The Oprah Show. The reason was to finally put to rest the rumor that Tommy Hilfiger was thrown out of an Oprah show 10 years ago for having said racist comments.

We know now and we knew then, when the rumor started to surface, that this was all a lie. But with the almost viral way that a rumor can spread on the internet, it has made this specific rumor surface once again. I myself received the following type of email regarding Tommy Hilfiger…

Subject: Tommy Hilfiger on Oprah

Text: “I’m sure many of you watched the recent taping of The Oprah Winfrey Show where her guest was Tommy Hilfiger. On the show, Oprah asked him if he had said, ‘If I had known African-Americans, Hispanics, Jews and Asians would buy my clothes, I would not have made them so nice. I wish these people would not buy my clothes, as they are made for upper-class white people.’ His answer to Oprah was a simple ‘Yes’ when she asked him, and she then immediately asked him to leave her show.”

In the interview, Tommy put to rest the silly rumor and even said that he even went to FBI agents and hired investigators. They traced the rumor to a college campus, but never truly figured out the actual source of this vicious rumor. I’ve read up on Tommy Hilfiger today, and indeed he is involved in so many causes, that just makes you admire this great designer even more.

My first Tommy Hilfiger apparel was his classic polo, the one I bought was a red. I don’t buy clothes much, but Tommy Hilfiger has one of the best lines, excellent cuts, and great fabrics.

But, getting back to rumors in the first place. It’s appalling that individuals can manufacture such wicked lies, knowing that it could possible hurt so many people, not just the person that is targeted. I remember a time when there were text messages and email rumors regarding the death of Pope John Paul, and it was a time when he was not in good health. It’s a sad fact, that in our day, some disrespectful individuals still think that these type of pranks are funny.

So, let’s listen to Oprah, and maybe remind our friends, family, or colleagues who forward to us these type of emails, and tell them not to forward such lies.