The acclaimed creator and star of American hit television series Girls, Lena Dunham, has been accused of stirring up antisemitic stereotypes after publishing a light-hearted article last week in which she compared Jews to dogs.

In the article for the New Yorker, titled "Dog or Jewish boyfriend? A Quiz", readers are invited to spot differences between the author's dog and her Jewish partner.

The 35-point list includes statements such as "He doesn't tip" and "Every week it's some new health issue."

The article drew the condemnation of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which called the piece "tasteless" and added that it "plays with offensive stereotypes".

In a statement, the ADL's US director, Abraham Foxman, said the article evoked memories of "the 'No Jews or Dogs Allowed' signs from our own early history in this country."

The article plays with offensive stereotypes

Mr Foxman called the piece "troubling" because "many in the Muslim world today hatefully refer to Jews as 'dogs'."

Ms Dunham, whose mother is Jewish, did not publicly comment on the controversy.

New Yorker editor-in-chief David Remnick came to her defence, telling Time magazine that the ADL was "howling in the wrong direction".

Ms Dunham, Mr Remnick suggested, was continuing a Jewish comic tradition "rich with the mockery of, and playing with, stereotypes."

Ms Dunham, 28, began dating American rock musician and Golden Globe Award-nominee Jack Antonoff in 2012.