Insiders want Talley booted

FASHION insiders are backing former Manolo Blahnik CEO George Malkemus in the messy legal battle to evict André Leon Talley from the New York mansion the Vogue legend claims he owns.

The Post exclusively revealed Talley filed a bombshell lawsuit claiming Malkemus and his partner Tony Yurgaitis were unfairly forcing him out of the $1 million White Plains home.

But Malkemus and Yurgaitis insist they are the true owners of the picturesque colonial property, which they say they have been leasing to Talley since 2004. They’re suing to get him evicted and claim in court docs that he owes them more than $500,000.

One influential fashion source said, “I worked for George and Tony for many years, and can confidently say that these accusations are complete stuff and nonsense. They are two of the most generous, loyal and forgiving people on the planet. They would give you the shirts off their backs and would never expect them to be returned. That they’ve maintained these qualities for decades, in an industry made up of so many egomaniacal vipers, is astonishing. They are also extremely private, so I can only imagine they feel betrayed and saddened that their friendship and devotion have been distorted.”

Malkemus, who partnered with Sarah Jessica Parker on her shoe brand, launched an eviction action against Talley in November. But Talley alleges in his suit that Malkemus and Yurgaitis were “longtime, trusted friends” who agreed to buy the home for him and transfer the title once he had repaid them the $1,020,000 purchase price. He claims he has since paid back more, and this is “an improper attempt to evict [him] from a home . . . that is rightfully his, so that they may sell the property.”

Malkemus’ attorney Edward David claimed, “Talley is over $300,000 behind in rent. He is desperate to stay [so he and his team] concocted their ‘story.’ ” Talley’s attorney ErikWeinick said he “has an extremely strong case, and we fully expect he will prevail in this unfortunate dispute.”