Oprah To Help Tommy Hilfiger Refute Pesky Racism Rumor

In the wake of the Don Imus “nappy-headed hos” scandal, fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger wants to get something straight.

“There’s a rumor about me being a racist,” Mr. Hilfiger told The Transom on Thursday, April 19, at real-estate developer Josh Guberman’s launch of his new boutique condominium complex on East 84th Street. The rumor in question started many years ago, as an anonymous item circulated on the Internet. It alleged that Mr. Hilfiger, while sitting on Oprah Winfrey’s couch, had confirmed hearsay that he was against Asians and African-Americans wearing his clothes. Ms. Winfrey then, it was said, kicked him off the set.

But “I was never on her show!” Mr. Hilfiger said. “Oprah and I are really good friends. She said, ‘You were never on the show; you never said it—I know you’re not that way.’ I said, ‘Right!’ She said, ‘Let’s debunk that rumor.’ I said, ‘O.K., great.’”

And so Mr. Hilfiger is finally appearing for real on The Oprah Winfrey Show, in a segment scheduled to air on Tuesday, May 1.

More tidbits from Tommy: He recently bought an apartment in the Plaza and celebrated a one-year anniversary dating erstwhile model Dee Ocleppo. “People have no idea what I’m really like,” he said. “I have two sons—one is white, the other is black. Nobody even knows that. My son’s a rapper.”

And what is Li’l Hilfiger’s stage name?

“Rich Hill,” Mr. Hilfiger said. “He doesn’t want to use my real name.”