André Leon Talley sent a heartfelt thank you to his supporters on Wednesday as he fights eviction from his Westchester mansion.
“I cannot thank you all enough for your outpouring of love and concern. I am healthy in mind and spirit and am quite grateful for the many messages from dear friends and extended community,” he wrote on Instagram.
The Post exclusively reported last month that the fashion pioneer and “The Chiffon Trenches: A Memoir” author was in a messy legal battle with ex Manolo Blahnik CEO, George Malkemus, over the $1 million White Plains home. He claims Malkemus and his business partner and husband, Tony Yurgaitis, are trying to kick Talley out of the home he says he owns. They claim it’s their home and that Talley owes them $500,000 in rent.
“As you probably know from ‘The Chiffon Trenches’, I’ve experienced many peaks and valleys in my life and remain quite resilient. The matter we are dealing with is unfortunate, but will be handled by my very capable legal team at this time,” Talley said in his Instagram post.
Stylist and designer Akeem Smith set up a GoFundMe for Talley earlier this week seeking to help raise $500,000. “Everyone in fashion has benefited from [Talley’s] contribution to the industry. [He] has not asked me to do this, but I believe this is the right thing to do. I believe we all should support him now to acknowledge his lifetime’s work and the room his fearlessness made for so many of the voices and points of view that have followed him,” he wrote.
On Wednesday, the page had raised $9,335. Talley also thanked Smith and “those who have contributed, I appreciate the thoughtful gesture and generosity, but it is completely unnecessary,” he said.