Andre Leon Talley is DEAD TO ME

A "giant" in the fashion world is an understatement.

He was a beached whale.

So fat.

Damn. 2022 is starting off with no chill.

Weight goals.

Who?

That's too bad -- 73 is not that old. RIP.

Damn that’s actually kinda shocking.

Anna wanted to take care of matters before the spring shows.

WTF is going on? I HATE 2022 so much and we are only 18 days into it. Make it stop!

The Grim Reaper's like a traffic cop trying to meet a quota!

I guess it's impressive he lived as long as he did given how huge he was.

Will Anna fling herself on his coffin as they lower it into the earth?

"TAKE ME! TAKE ME INSTEAD, GOD!"?

Media saturation and the long tail of the Internet begat way too many famous people. We’re going to be dealing with a deluge of daily deaths for decades.

The world of fashion has lost one of its preemi-tent wearers.

Suddenly....

There is so much more oxygen in the world.

Too bad the banner headlines for Yvette Mimieux's death will drive him off the front page.

Too bad the banner that is one of Andre Leon Talley's caftans will obscure Yvette Mimieux's casket from view.

R16 Fuck that skinny cunt!

Covid or stroke?

R19 Cirrhosis. Heart attack. Diabetes. Stroke.

Take your pick.

Poor guy. I posted this before. As a student I worked a gig with a bunch of VIPS. Mr. Talley was the only guy who tipped us and had a kind word for the help.

Oh, no! I loved him

correction : I worked a gig with a bunch of VIPS in attendance.

Christo and Jeanne-Marie: do you have any black fabric?

He was a good person. His worst sin (besides overeating) was that he was pompous and self-important, but he seemed kind and funny. Much kinder than Anna herself.

BONJOUR!

He had a huge ass, but couldn't live forever.

Queen Kong

[quote] "Who?"

I see Anna Wintour is a Datalounger after all.

Gurl!

MARY!

MARY!

He was bored darling.

May his caftans provide shelter to all of the homeless, from coast to coast.

Earrings! Caftan!!

He finally bit off more than he could chew.

I read his book recently, “The Chifon Trenches” and really enjoyed it. It’s too bad he died broke. He probably spent all his earnings on Birkins instead of planning ahead.

I'm surprised he didn't take Anna Wintour with him.

What'd he die of? Nothing serious, I hope!

The article (since OP got greyed out for some weird reason).

I wish people would stop shrieking the year and saying it's cursed or crying about the year being a bad one already. We did that all 2016 - now, it's so tired.

Or the anthropomorpised year may come to life and destroy you all!

I get the impression he died a relatively broken man.

R40 Indeed. I presume he was murdered by the man who could not get the fuck cunt to leave his house.

At least he didn’t have to live in poverty for too long. Rip.

Oh my god, I’m shaking! I can’t believe he is gone!

I hope he haunts Anna. Fuck that bitch!

r13, they were famous before the 'net.

Like many of the most notorious 70s NYC icons of a certain age (Andre, LuPone, M, Liza, even De Niro), they know where their bread is buttered and display zero attitude among friends (and/or “servants”). The horror stories are (mostly) at work, not play. Andre was famously convivial away from cameras.

I guess with the eviction moratorium ending, it was inevitable. Or did he ever pay the $350,000 he owed in rent and back taxes?

Anyway, RIP.

🔥 MARY!

The cremation.

He's already been commemorated---on Easter Island.

His bequeathed caftans will immediately solve any fabric supply chain problems in the U.S. fashion industry.

His corpse will be used to replace the island that completely submerged in the tsunami this last weekend.

[quote] derekblasberg Verified No one told a story like Andre Leon Talley. His inflection, his intonation, his hand gestures: He could spin a fairy tail out of a ruffle or a sleeve. He breathed fashion. He broke barriers in this industry. He was original, funny, biting, ornate, and utterly fabulous. As a Vogue intern in college, he gave me my first break, and I’ll never forget his kindness and encouragement. I’m saddened to hear of his passing and send love and best wishes to all of us who will miss him 🕊

I wish someone could have helped him. Auction off some of his stuff, settle up financially with the man who was trying to evict him, move into somewhere he could afford.

He was so overweight, though. Not sure whether he was a drinker.

I think he was stubborn and nobody could help him, maybe.

Wow -- who had him on this year's death list? Anyone?

Can you imagine how bad he smelled? Could he wipe himself? His dick probably smelled like rotting fish.

Bette Midler and Paris Hilton have already Tweeted their condolences. Not a word from Susan Dey yet, but it's still early..

ALT would not have minded the mean-spirited comments on this page. He knew who he was.

He would hate them because you cunts lack wit and any sense of fashion history.

You commit the cardinal sin of being boring dullards. But, please, disrespect your betters. It's a charming affectation.

Tyra Banks, Billy Porter, Diane von Furstenberg have issued statements of condolence and tribute.

he was a massive cunt

R6

Black males in USA only have life expectancy of about 78 years. ALT carrying around all that excess bulk for years likely contributed to shaving off several years of his life.

At least one media site claims cause of death was a heart attack, but that has not been confirmed by other sources yet IIRC.

Heart disease and cancer are two leading causes of death for non Hispanic black males in USA.

He died of a broken heart after Anna stopped taking his phone calls.

Fashion victim during life. Fashion victim at the end.

[quote] He died of a broken heart after Anna stopped taking his phone calls.

She called him, but he could no longer reach the phone. Such are the sharp pangs of irony.

Here's a 2018 article about ALT: Lonely Life of ALT Terrifies Me.

Didn’t he lose some credibility as a fashion expert/guru after he dressed Jennifer Hudson in that awful dress/jacket combo at the Oscars?

Frenemies

Deadbeat Renters across the nation are mourning. They have lost one of their own....

R65

If ALT's life was "lonely" it was largely of his own doing.

Am not saying things were easy, but you have to meet people half way, and also do you first.

Have met others similar to ALT; some white, but most men of color who came from middle class or lower backgrounds. By luck, and hard work they managed to pull themselves up and gain admittance into worlds normally they wouldn't get into. At first people find them charming and are willing to assist in their professional and perhaps personal rise. Then comes the other face.....

Strong streak of delusions of grandeur coupled with seemingly an inability to realize there are things that just aren't done nor said. ALT at times was a big mooch... Hitting up his employers for loans to buy property, that whole house in Westchester mess, etc....

On personal side of things ALT was a black man (gay or whatever) largely moving in a world (fashion) that is dominated by whites. If he was looking for love in the corridors of Conde Nast, showrooms of Paris, New York, London, Berlin or Milan he'd likely not find it, or get very far.

Yes, being revered as fabulous, fierce, and a trailblazer is all very well, but it won't keep your warm in bed at night.

ALT had a dream and made it happen from humble beginnings. He loved Vogue and got to be at the top for a while, which is more than most. He brought fashion, irreverence, and a colorful spirit in this world. There is indeed a "famine of beauty" these days and the world is less interesting without ALT in it.

You achieved what you set out to do. And I too am praying that AW throws herself on your coffin and says "take me". I know that's what you'd really want.

I think they’re gonna need to What’s Eating Gilbert Grape that house with him in it.

I've lowered my caftan to half ass in tribute.

Was he found face-down in a bowl of ice cream?

Ultimately, it’s was Talley’s folly.

Did he ever get that gazebo he so wanted as a child?

Let’s remember the Good Times

Saving Grace

Making Whoopi

[Quote]Strong streak of delusions of grandeur coupled with seemingly an inability to realize there are things that just aren't done nor said. ALT at times was a big mooch... Hitting up his employers for loans to buy property, that whole house in Westchester mess, etc....

After all his delusions, the Manolo's really nailed him for being a bankrupt user. I suspect he won't be gushed over, but let's go on with any angle that absolves the fat user guy.

He was America’s father

He was America's larder.

He was America’s barter, he tried to barter himself a home.

Did anyone ever read any of his articles in Vogue? I get the feeling not.

I did, and what came across is simply acquired knowledge of fashion history, which anyone can gain by reading, but no truly original thought. His articles just seemed an endless parrotting of knowledge, without being insightful or innovative. They were boring. It makes me think that if hadn't been so convivial, flamboyant and useful as figure of racial inclusion, he wouldn't have had the career he had. I think Anna understood this exactly, and that he'd been riding on it for a long time. Another figure she championed, Hamish Bowles, has all that fashion knowledge, plus knowledge of design generally, and unlike Talley, can write entertaining and insightful articles about it.

What were his thoughts on the latest cover of British Vogue, or is that what killed him?

He was Westchester's big-breaster.

He's America's "I don't know how to hire a fucking lawyer, because I'm apparently too stupid after spending decades around people who only know how to hire lawyers!!!"

Poor ALT - Will he blame it on being black in a weird, white industry? Or just being fat and stupid, his seeming foibles? He kept repeating those over and over, again.

Will he be lying in state at the Condé Nast offices?

Air out your mothballed mourning caftans and raise very high the roofbeams of the funeral home, carpenters.

Boy, r58, talk about being a "boring dullard"!

Okay, Esme at r88.

Was it covid?

Someone about a week ago mentioned on a thread that Andre had been ill recently, and I wish I'd remembered to ask him more about it. Now I can't even remember the thread it was on.

It doesn't surprise me that so many DLers hated Talley, considering how many here mistake dull-minded resentment and basic bitch shallowness for wit, but the hate has always been unwarranted and extreme. Most of the long-winded essays written about how he was a fraud are full of omissions and lies, surely on purpose, and I would recommend anyone unfamiliar with Talley at least go to his Wikipedia page before believing the opinions posted here.

I don’t feel the hate at all

I worked at a Property Management Company. Deadbeat renters and squatters are the worst..

R86. He probably won’t be blaming anyone now.

This Morning Joe’s Mika Brzezinski said -

[quote] “Our dear, dear friend, [ALT], a ground breaking icon . . .”

Yep. Every step he took.

Perhaps Miss Vreeland will allow him to sit with her in the evenings in her apartment in the Great Beyond and read her memoirs of European royals and aristos. Squee!

Looks like his landlord gets the last laugh. It's doubtful ALT had a will, and now his belongings are in the house in which he was squatting.

Rest in Patterns.

R83, I used to read American Vogue and read his editor-at-large columns. Maybe he wasn't as talented a writer as Hamish Bowles, but his fashion CV is exceptional; assisting Diana Vreeland, palling around with Bianca Jagger, being good friends with and consultant to Karl Lagerfeld, etc.

[quote]Did he ever get that gazebo he so wanted as a child?

Yes. He wore it.

Will we get Fran Lebowitz instead of west coast Susan Dey?

When I die, if being pals with inspiring stateswoman, grand humanitarian and warm and cuddly laugh riot Bianca Jagger is listed in my Obit among my accomplishments, please, dear friends, come kill me again.

"A trend setting Titan" = Good Morning America---shamelessly overexaggerating......

^ "Trend-setting" may be a stretch but "titan" is one thing that does fit.

No official COD, but some supposedly in the know are saying he died of COVID.

She was a biiiiiiig girl!

.I worked for a property management group and we dealt with squatters. Homeowners CAN go in to "protect the property".....Use the excuse you are securing it.....Trust Me...Change the locks. Use the excuse Andre told you he had no relatives or friends he recognized as heirs. That will complicate things for Andres Family when they show up. You can take back your property!!! Throw his junk in a storage locker for 90 days and then let the family scrounge through THAT instead of YOUR property. We once had squatters family show up and literally stole the light fixtures and appliances and everything else not nailed down. Do NOT let any of Andres family or friends in YOUR house---I cannot stress that enough...The worse thing you can do is allow them inside the house. Tell them his items are going to storage. If they go in they will claim to be allowed to stay in the house without paying rent---just like Andre did....

If you watch/read interviews with him, he cuts rather a pathetic figure. Just desperate to hobnob with rich, white people, at any cost. He only seems to have embraced being black very recently and when it suited him, not as a point of principle. He told Tamron Hall less than a year ago that he would forgive Anna Wintour for everything if she would just invite him to Bellport or something. It is just ridiculous for a man in his seventies to think like that.

His first memoir, ALT, is about being raised by his grandmother in Durham and the way reading and school expanded his world - it is wonderful. It’s crazy to me that it’s out of print.

I recommend that sadly ignorant people like this -

[quote] He only seems to have embraced being black very recently and when it suited him, not as a point of principle.

give it a read. He spent his whole life (including his Master’s thesis) arguing that Black people had a place in, and had already been an integral part of, the art and fashion worlds. He quit his job in Paris with WWD because of the intense racism there, among many other things.

One of his first jobs was at the 2nd, less fabulous & silver Factory, Warhol hired ALT to answer the phones, which he did while wearing a pith helmet.

Fair enough, R110, I didn't know that as I haven't read his memoirs, so excuse my ignorance. I see on Wikipedia that his Master's thesis apparently dealt with black women in Baudelaire, so perhaps he was ahead of his time at that period in his life. Nevertheless, his stronger stance on diversity and so on did seem to coincide with his exile from Dame Anna's social circle, which was mainly white. I agree that his origin story as aesthete gay boy in the Jim Crow South growing up with his dignified grandmother is interesting.

I think his willingness to forgive Anna may have been at least somewhat related to his faith, not just wanting to stay in the center of things. He was a churchgoer his whole life, even in his rich and famous days.

Velvet-covered dirigibles for everyone.

In celebration of (my) life.

The whole post mortem scene must be MACABRE. Please someone document the state of that house and the "collections".

Wendy mocked him on her show via the shoe cam. That was mean as the only thing he could get his swollen feet into were bedroom slippers. And the slippers looked trashed. Sad all around. RIP

[quote] Wendy mocked him on her show

Karma is visiting her at the moment

Hilton Als, please pull some strings to get your ALT New Yorker profile back in digital form online instead of the New Yorker’s weird subscriber PDF system. (Can the New Yorker please get with the damn times?!)

2022 is DRECKITUDE!

Who was the landlord?

^Georgia Tent and Awning

Wendy did that shoe cam thing on all of her guests. ALT probably never watched the WW Show until he was on it. Not prepared for shoe cam.

...........

I wish there were more people like him on earth

And all the papers had to say was that Anna found him in the nude

R124 Dead?

Amazed at how little airtime this event has gotten here. IIRC there was a lot more commentary around ALT's real-estate kerfluffle with the Manolo people than around his passing.

He was a PRETENTIOUS douche. Who cares!

He was one of the great characters of the great character-driven era of style, especially the NY style world. An era that is being superseded by today's corporatized style paradigm and its low tolerance for chasracters.

R127 there's another thread with an obscure name that isn't full of trolls like this one where it's being discussed

[R58], smell you! Did your Uber get lost up Miss Talley's arse or something? If you want to use the word disrespect, how about 'The Chiffon Trenches'? I wonder how YOU would react if someone wrote a book fingering you as a total cunt who is 'incapable of human kindness'? You'd be on a Zoom call to your analyst faster than I could say 'knife'.

This is the DL, sweetheart. We don't go for kweens who point paste-bejeweled crab hand fingers at the masses whilst absolving oneself of all humour. Be gone! You have no power here! Have a care, before someone drops a house on YOU!

I "Searched" keywording "Talley" and the others that came up had few comments, this had the most. But it's Troll World. Oh, well.

R132 it doesn't have his name in it at all, I'd link it but I don't want to draw the trolls to it.

Yes I found him an insufferable prick quite often,but part of me always felt a little sorry for him. To think he never found love (or even sex) explains a lot of the pretentious behavior. Havent we all known the fat ugly person who acted like a bitch ? Its a defense mechanism. You watch and see if relatives he wouldnt have pissed on if they were on fire are going to come out of the woodwork to grab what they can. His Vuitton collection alone must be worth a chunk. God only knows what other stuff he has tucked away. I hope he finds the peace that eluded him in life.Good bad or indifferent he WAS a character.

[quote]That was mean as the only thing he could get his swollen feet into were bedroom slippers.

On behalf of the teeny tiny patent pumps he tortured and traumatized over the years, it was too little, too late!

Doctor friend in Houston confirms COVID.

To be clear ALT apparently died from complications from covid, but that wouldn't be cause of death.

It's like HIV/AIDS, infection is what contributes to death, but usually something else cause actual demise. In any case all are listed.

Like when Liberace's private doctors tried to get away with saying COD was simply "cardiac arrest due to congestive heart failure brought on by subacute encephalopathy, with contributing cause of aplastic anemia". Then coroner got involved and after an autopsy was done COD was changed to " pneumonia due to complications from AIDS"

Yasss Kween! Finally a position opened up!

Will there be a big kaftan yard sale this Spring?

He had a fat ass, so he couldn't live forever.

Omg

I don't think they'll have room to show them all at once, R139.

Someone up thread stated ALT spoke of vile racism during his time in Europe. This is incorrect. In fact he said:

His first trip to Paris was as a student during spring break, but many would follow. He described being struck by the acceptance of Blackness — of “négritude” — that seemed so widespread there. “That was France with racism, racial profiling … They understood way before America how to treat Blacks with equality,” he said. “Take it to the modern moment, Black models are often advised to go to Paris — to Europe — (and) be an apprentice … and you can come back and be a big star in New York.”

At least in France, especially major urban areas such as Paris, the French have no problems with "blacks" especially African Americans. Josephine Baker, James Baldwin, Ada "Bricktop" Smith, and scores of other African Americans both famous or dead common made their home in Paris or other parts of France, and were well loved and received.

Now when it comes to Africans from that continent, yes, there French often do have race issues....

Africans on the dole, yes there are issues, but any black guy who has lived on the Continent will tell you life is better for him there than in the USA.

There have been Africans in France since 1600's, and on balance they fared far better than those in USA.

Ever hear name Dumas?

In the early 1800s the Pasha of Egypt gifted France a giraffe, now known as Zarafa, which set off a frenzy of activity in France for all things African, especially as the young female giraffe walked from Marseille to Paris over a number of months and she was celebrated along the way. Two Sudanese handlers, Hasan and Atir, accompanied her and they caused quite a stir too. Apparently over the next decade they fucked their way through high society Paris and were considered great lovers of the ladies. One or the other appears in most images with Zarafa.

This was a very interesting and worthwhile exhibition that lives on in this full pdf catalog.

ALT and Anna Wintour apparently buried the hatchet before former died, bringing an end to their long bitter feud.

So does this mean Anna Wintour will be springing for ALT's funeral expenses in whole or part? She could at least offer to take care of the repass afterwards.

Will that be the next season of Ryan Murphy’s Feud? Can Jessica Lange pull off Winatour? Really Forrest Whitaker was born to play ALT, but he better start eating now and sizing up for the role.

R150 How do we know this actually happened and it’s not just her people putting out that story to make her look better? Convenient how this comes out now all of a sudden…

Anna's such a bitch!

ALT grew old and fat in one of the most visual and snobbish profession .. what did he expect? In a separate thread, we are discussing which airlines has the best looking stewards.

You can age in the fashion industry, but only with style. And you can't get FAT.

Wonder if things will turn out like Stephen Sondheim, ALT dies then that is that, no word on a funeral, burial, or whatever happens to his remains.

Or, will there be a funeral like in Imitation of Life, with Anna Wintour throwing herself upon the hearse wailing " I didn't mean it, I'm sorry, I did love you"...

It's been almost a week now and no word on funeral arrangements. My guess there isn't any money and whoever is responsible (executor of estate, next of kin) is grasping at how to get things done.

Didn't ALT have a sister? Is there any other family such as uncles, aunts, cousins?

No offence but given recent examples (Aretha Franklin, Prince...) many POC with substantial assets aren't great at making final will and testament, this forces things to get complicated and perhaps nasty.

While ATL may or may not "own" that house in Westchester, there still is property in NC, not to mention all belongings which are part of his estate.

Unfortunately, even estates with modest assets can take many, many months (if not years) to settle.

Unless there is cash lying around (or funeral’s been prepaid) checking out means someone else has to front the bill.

IIRC photographer Francesco Scavullo died broke as well and friends had to take up a collection for all funeral costs.

They could pawn all that vintage Louis Vuitton luggage preserved with yacht lacquer that ALT's got stashed up on second floor to pay for the funeral.

I'm not sure I believe that Page Six article about Anna Wintour and ALT making up before his death.

Francesco Scavullo left an estate worth about $2 million USD. Ready money at time for final expenses might have been an issue, but his estate would (and does) continue to make money.

Francesco Scavullo’s Archives and Foundation

Correction, according to just found legal documents, Mr. Scavullo left an estate worth about $3.7 million.

Again will give you that even when an estate has substantial assets it can be short of ready money. But also as stated Mr. Scavullo was hardly broke at time of his death.

FS's UES co-op apartment sold for around $1 million. So again there was money in his estate.

There are ways of getting money to tide over surviving spouses, heirs and others until deceased estate is settled. More so if people can see there are assets involved that will bring in cash.

Scavullo was a photographer who owned the rights to publish his photos, probably.

I don't think ALT has this kind of financial legacy, considering what happened in the last 2 years of his life.

ALT as stated in this thread and elsewhere on DL was basically broke or close to it in his final years. Well "broke" as in living way above his head in relation to income. Remember all the drama about how he got that house in White Plains, and why things ended up in court?

Truth to tell by recent studies majority of Americans (around 51%) lack any sort of emergency savings, with most barely able to lay hands on even $1,000 USD. What people often have is tons of stuff (often bought with debt), but end of each month often sees their bank balances at or < $500 if that.

ALT picked wrong industry to build any sort of wealth. Fashion does not pay well unless one is in a select group. Publishing is just as bad, but there is always perks and bennies, but again those largely come to certain positions.

Those scenes with Patsy Stone in Ab Fab at her job (Ella Magazine) wasn't or isn't too far off. Patsy's earned so little money she lived above a shop. Or as Saffy says a hole in wall where even cockroaches left of their own accord. But Patsy have closet full of designer stuff and other freebies.

Those meetings with editors and others at Ella Mag dividing up free goodies designers, cosmetic companies and others have sent over is on mark as well.

I am listening to ALT book right now, The Chiffon Trenches, because I like his larger than life personality, his wit, and I appreciate his talent. I get the impression that he never made very much in his career in terms of cash, but lived his life comped on freebies. He was best friends w/ Karl Lagerfeld, who per ALT's own words, paid for him to have whatever he wanted from Louis Vuitton, an open door at Chanel, concord flights, and suites at the Ritz for weeks at a time. It seems Anna kept him in the same way. Towards the early 2000's, he wasn't a consultant for Vogue. He got a very small office and he would get flown around the world to help fit socialites. Great perks but I don't know about the pay. I think ALT was sincere in his approach to his friendships and relationships. Anna/Vogue paid for a food addiction recovery and a suite a hotel in Durham 3 times.

Anna may be a bitch, but her statement out having a wonderful and complicated friendship that spans decades seems pretty accurate. She seemed pretty fair with him in the grand scheme of things. Karl Lagerfeld was extremely generous. I can see where I would be easy to be bankrolled by rich friends but there is a price to pay and you must always keep them amused.

I'm sorry but ALT comes across as a pretentious and grasping little climber.

quote from Guardian article

" André Leon Talley – legendary fashion editor, prince of excess – has taken a fair few luxury holidays in his time. First-class flights to Biarritz, private jets, shopping trips to Florence by Concorde. But sometimes he keeps it simple and spends a quiet weekend with his friend, the shoe designer Manolo Blahnik, in Bath “at his residence on the Crescent”.

“Manolo will be in the kitchen cooking his wonderful cuisine, and I’ll be in the larder, lacquering my Louis Vuitton cases with yacht varnish, bringing them to a high shine,” he tells me.

Wait, did he say “yacht varnish”?

“Yes, yacht. Y-A-C-H-T. It’s nothing esoteric. I was inspired by Mrs Vreeland, who told me her suitcases were lacquered in yacht varnish,” he says, referring to the late Diana Vreeland, a former editor of US Vogue and Talley’s first mentor.

Talley has more than 50 pieces of Vuitton hand luggage, currently residing unused in his second home in North Carolina, “because there’s no one at the airports to carry them now”. So he gets through a lot of lacquer, in pursuit of “this refined, dandy lifestyle: it’s not about glamour – it’s self-respect, a standard”. Nor is it about snobbery: “I may have had moments of hauteur. H-A-U-T-E-U-R. But I was never a snob. You can ask [Princess] Gloria von Thurn und Taxis, or [Lady] Amanda Harlech!”

/quote

Haven known or know of several persons like this, oddly they usually always were gay trans POC. They try to cover up various inadequacies of their background or whatever by acting rather grand. Worse they seem to base their behaviour on how they believe certain people do, (hint, they don't).

ALT did have some talent, and that is what opened doors and or attracted certain people to his cause. But like so many others he seemed to take things too far, as if all were his rightful due. Going on about his homes in North Carolina and Westchester. Notice he never spelled out in that Guardian interview just how he came to own that property in NC.

[quote] It's been almost a week now and no word on funeral arrangements.

Aren't facilities on overload (again) due to COVID?

No, not really.

A NYPD officer was killed in line of duty late last week. Within days his funeral arrangements were announced including services at Saint Patrick's Cathedral.

My guess is same as others; ALT doesn't (or didn't) have any ready money lying about, and or his estate doesn't either. That and or he did not make a will specifying among other things final arrangements.

Once someone dies financial institutions upon being notified will close all accounts. Funds or other assets (such as stocks, bonds, etc..) are then held until executor reaches out. At this point at least funds in closed checking, savings, money market and other "cash" accounts can be moved to a new "estate of" account and used to pay outstanding debts of decedent, funeral/burial expenses, etc...

Where there isn't a final will and testament (or it cannot be readily located), and no immediate heirs under state law can be located, things end up on surrogate court where a judge will assign a public administrator to act as executor of estate.

In NYS at least anyone can bury (or now even cremate IIRC) anyone, doesn't have to be next of kin, an heir, executor of estate, etc...

Within the gay community it was and still is rather common for those who knew deceased to club together and see to it a proper funeral and burial take place. This really came to head during HIV/AIDS epidemic where you had so many men especially in large cities like NYC, SF, LA, etc... who died alone either with no family, or what of that they had didn't want to be bothered, thus condemning poor soul to a paupers grave.

....

[quote] He was best friends w/ Karl Lagerfeld, who per ALT's own words, paid for him to have whatever he wanted from Louis Vuitton, an open door at Chanel, concord flights, and suites at the Ritz for weeks at a time. It seems Anna kept him in the same way.

It was probably way cheaper for Karl & Anna to pay ALT in goods rather than ca$h. I doubt Karl and Anna were paying "rack rate" for these goods. ALT was dumb to accept payment that way. With cash, he could have still purchased LV bags, etc.

I had no idea Scavullo died penniless. How did that happen? He left half his estate of art to his partner and half to a charitable foundation his parter was supposed to run. I think the entire situation quickly turned VERY shady. It seems to me there must be millions of dollars at least in potential revues and sales of managing his artistic heritage. This is the surviving partner Sean Byrnes

R173

All that gifting by designers, fashion houses, etc... is a complicated matter, and in some instances can be considered income by recipient.

Scavullo did not die penniless as I posted above. I just recall some friends who knew him well had to arrange for his funeral. It was quite shocking to me at the time, but it must have been a case of no immediate access to his funds as explained above

Francesco Scavullo's niece (Angela Scott), and close friend ( Michael Herwitz) were (are) executors of his estate. As both were living at time, don't see why "friends" would have had to step in to make final arrangements or anything else.

More to point Sean Barnes, Scavullo's long time partner was also living.

Scavullo had a long list of family via his sister Margaret Scott (mother of Angela), so again don't see why "friends" would have to get involved with his funeral arrangements.

I know who oversaw his funeral. It wasn't family.

Anna Wintour has issued a statement by way of Vouge magazine.

Because R177 (and ilk) Executors don’t get permission to access the dead person’s accounts, furniture and other assets until a court “officially” agrees to their appointment, which sometimes can take weeks (or months)!

R181

You aren't saying a damn thing anyone doesn't know already, well those who have been involved with making final arrangements for a deceased person. Also as stated previously in thread there are ways of dealing with issue of payments for funeral/burial costs.

Funeral homes, directors, burial grounds, etc.. the lot are all used to fact while decedent's estate may have assets they may not be accessed readily. They are all too familiar with wills, probate, life insurance proceeds, executors, and so forth.

If no one had a funeral and or was buried unless or until ready money was at hand to pay there would be corpses piled up in morgues for weeks or months.

I wonder how the lawsuit over the White Plains property will proceed? In subsequent filings, surviving spouse, Tony Yugatitis, and his now-deceased husband, George Malkemus, claimed Talley owed them over $362K.. I would assume that potential claim against Talley's estate would be presented during probate and could hold things up there until a decision or settlement is reached in the other case?

Totally had no idea Mr. George Malkemus passed on late last year.

IIRC both Mr. Malkemus and his spouse were party to lawsuit against ALT as joint plaintiffs. It is not unusual for one party to a lawsuit (plaintiff) to die, thus courts are used to this sort of thing. Since the couple were legally married their estate is "joined" , so that should be that.

As for ALT dying, this does open up a whole new kettle of fish. His estate could choose to settle the matter, or continue legal proceedings with aim of getting that property in Westchester to become part of ALT's estate. Obviously it then could be sold by said estate with proceeds going to pay debts or as directed if ALT left a will.

Cannot see executor of ALT's estate continuing with legal actions to keep that Westchester house. Don't know who was paying ALT's legal bills while he was alive, but with him gone unless the estate has plenty of moolah to proceed (all those billable hours don't come cheap).

In end it likely would cost ALT's estate good part of what that house is worth in legal bills in fight to keep. With ALT dead really don't see the point. If there was a surviving spouse and or minor children things might be different.

Widower Tony Yurgaitis left to run that farm in CT all on his own. Maybe he'll take on a young and capable lad to help...

Tasteful Friends Alert: Tony Yurgaitis recently put his and Malkemus' Central Park West property on the market for $25 million.

It appears legal matter between ALT and George Malkemus III and spouse was settled back in October 2021. It also appears judge in case was losing patience with constant requests for adjournments telling both sides to pull up their socks because court was ready to rock and roll.

Details were confidential but ALT was allowed to remain in that Westchester home.

Mr. Malkemus was mortally ill with cancer during 2021, and indeed died 16 September 2021. Attorney for ATL notified court in October of settlement which seems not to have been finalized until November. Either way Mr. Malkemus was already dead, so one wonders how much of this was done before his demise, or came after via the surviving spouse.

Dead, all dead, at least soon.

New York is a very pro tenant state. Eviction proceedings for non payment often are settled by stipulation where tenant agrees to pay back rent owed.

Normally entire court record is public information. If ALT and or his landlords wanted certain things kept confidential that would have meant yet another gentleman's agreement somewhere. Considering how it was such a thing that started this whole mess, seems odd that landlords would go for it again.

Contrary to what many believe ALT was not totally busted broke. He was dining out several times per week, being driven about in his car with a driver, etc... All that takes money,

"In October, the parties informed the court they had reached a confidential settlement in principle and the final deal would be executed shortly. The filing noted, “Despite the execution of the settlement agreement, a few remaining administrative matters must be completed before the parties are able to file a stipulation of dismissal.”

The last filing in the court system is the letter from Talley’s lawyer stating the settlement would be t would be coming shortly. The case is still listed as active and appears to have never been dismissed.

On Tuesday, Talley died at the age of 73 at a hospital in White Plains."

[quote] Contrary to what many believe ALT was not totally busted broke

I guess they weren't listening when ALT himself said he didn't need the hand-outs when telling that fool to shut down the unsolicited gofundme.

Well something is up, still no word on funeral or even burial arrangements, this one week after ALT's demise.

Hospitals normally don't like holding onto remains for very long. Husband of an elderly acquaintance died in a NYC hospital, and he started getting telephone calls from the place barely few days after demise asking about when body was going to be collected. Guy was trying to find a place that did direct cremation at an affordable rate, but no such thing apparently exists in NYC area. Again meanwhile those messages from hospital kept coming about when a funeral home was going to arrive and collect body.

If he died in the hospital maybe his body is part of the clog reported last week.

He had kin in NC. At one point a younger nephew or something was living in his NC house. The NC kin aren't going to be holding any events for the people he knew in NYC. It's telling that apparently none of his many "friends" are moving to hold a memorial. There doesn't have to be an official funeral for friends/colleagues/etc to move on their own to honor a beloved deceased. Like, after L'Wren Scott's suicide. There was a small funeral on the West Coast, but the NYC fashion community rallied and held their own memorial to honor one of their own. ALT was there, actually.

Nothing of the kind appears to be in play for Andre.

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

This NYT piece spells things out.

At least in NYC when a hospital's morgue reaches capacity bodies are often transferred to city's ME office.

Hospitals normally do not have endless morgue space, hence story told above about a place pestering a surviving spouse to get his late husband's remains collected.

OTOH many local municipal coroner or medical examiners offices do have far larger morgue space.

With so many obese people dying from COVID, perhaps the demand for double-wide caskets has led to a back order situation in the supply chain, thereby causing a delay in funeral planning. There was a report on this down in Georgia a couple months ago.

[quote] “We found that there are some caskets -- especially, plus size, oversized caskets that are harder to get,” said Taylor Funeral Home Director Evone Taylor.

R197

Just get a crate from Bechstein or Steinway and be done....

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

She has the audacity not to be wearing all black? Who is she Christine Branski in Gilded Age?

[quote] Didn't ALT have a sister? Is there any other family such as uncles, aunts, cousins?

R157 The Washington Post obituary says, "Mr. Talley had no immediate survivors."

R200

Ms. Wintour is wearing a black mask, what more do you want? Widows weeds?

R192 An official obituary, coming from his talent agency, was released two days ago via PR Newswire. In that it states:

[quote] He is survived by his dear cousin Shirley Austin and a host of other relatives. An official memorial will be announced in the spring – Mr. Talley's favorite time of year.

After reading that bit at R203 that's a minute of my life I want back.

He died having a bowel movement. On the “commode”….not even a “hard wired” toilet….one of those toilet seat shitters old people use. It took 4 nurses to wrangle him into double body bags. A heart attack having a Matterhorn sized crap. How grim. I’m only telling THIS truth because my experience with ALT was far from pleasant. He was a vicious, nasty CUNT. “Grand” is being kind. He was a monster, looking down his flared nostrils at anyone he deemed “less than”. His deep, intestinal based halitosis had me gagging. And not in the good way

[quote] New York is a very pro tenant state. Eviction proceedings for non payment often are settled by stipulation where tenant agrees to pay back rent owed.

IIRC, ALT was claiming that he was more than a tenant. He said that he actually had an oral contract and was buying the house, not paying rent.

I'm surprised that he was allowed to stay on that property and would be interested to know what the outcome of the court case was that allowed him to stay. Did the judge consider him a tenant or a mortgagee?

Late George Malkemus and his spouse Anthony Yurgaitis listed themselves on all legal documents relating to eviction proceedings as "landlord". You can see them in various linked articles above. Nothing in that settlement (which apparently was never finalized), or anything else changed that fact.

ALT was never made joint or sole owner of that property in Westchester, he died as he lived, a tenant.

Using link below can search property records for Westchester, address is 75 Worthington Road, White Plains, NY 10607. If there was any change in title it would be recorded in county records which are open to public examination.

You can see last activity on ANDRE L. TALLEY v. GEORGE MALKEMUS III et al was that letter filed electronically by ALT's attorney saying a settlement had been reached (see R187), but few more details needed to be worked out.

Nothing occurs after that event and indeed case still remains open. If court had signed off on stipulation it would be part of records.

By October 2021 George Malkemus was already dead, but his spouse Anthony Yurgaitis (the "et al" listed in documents) was still alive and well. Thus it was surely Mr. Yurgaitis who was doing the negotiating about that settlement which prompted letter to court.

Sooner or later this legal proceeding must be brought to a conclusion. ALT of course is dead, but his estate still lives. In fact that entity is responsible for arrears of not paid rent, and (depending upon terms of lease or whatever agreement) balance of lease until it ended. Anthony Yurgaitis of course still lives and is now sole owner of property.

Neatest way to go about things would be for AY to instruct his attorney to file motion for dismissal of eviction proceedings in light of ALT's demise. Also release estate of ALT from all claims for arrears rent, and any other monies due.

It's been over a week now since ALT died, think we can safely assume there won't be any sort of funeral, just direct burial or cremation with perhaps small graveside or whatever service.

There is a chance of a small family and close friends only funeral, and odds are on that would be in North Carolina with burial taking place near final resting places of either grandmother or parents.

Find a Grave shows burial information:

Mount Sinai Baptist Church Cemetery

Chapel Hill Township, Orange County, North Carolina, USA

I would imagine he would want to be buried near his grandmother who acted as his mom. I think she is buried in Durham or Chapel Hill.

R210

Thanks, was going to search Find a Grave later one when had a free moment.

So that's that...

One was correct then, ALT was laid to rest with rest in same place as his beloved mother and grandmother. Wonder if ALT has his own grave, or as fairly common either plot of his grandmother or mother are doubles meaning another could be buried in same.

R211

Mother and grandmother are in Durham, NC; the father was buried in Roxboro.

Yes, grandma's is there as well. Looks like he arranged for it with this large marker.

How come he and Luther Vandross never hooked up? They were both lonely queens and could have comforted each other.

I'm in Durham. I may have to take a spin by later this spring.

To date no will or other testamentary document has been filed with Westchester courts.

Know in NYC when some dies at home and is single/lived alone, the place is sealed (apartment, room, private home) until next of kin can be located. Even if someone dies away from home (think that poor Asian woman pushed to her death recently on NYC subway), same happens. NYPD were at the decedent's residence within hours after event.

This is a good thing because it prevents (hopefully) people entering the place and helping themselves.

His possessions are one thing, but there also is question about royalties from his book and any other intellectual property.

Next of kin hierarchy under NYS law goes as follows:

Surviving spouse

Children

Grandchildren

Parents

Siblings and issue of pre-deceased siblings, if any (nieces and nephews)

Grandparents and issue of predeceased grandparents (first cousins)

Great-grandparents and issue of predeceased great-grandparents (first cousins once removed).

If there isn't a will, things get interesting under NYS law:

quote The property of a decedent not disposed of by will shall be distributed as provided in this section. In computing said distribution, debts, administration expenses and reasonable funeral expenses shall be deducted but all estate taxes shall be disregarded, except that nothing contained herein relieves a distributee from contributing to all such taxes the amounts apportioned against him or her under 2-1.8. Distribution shall then be as follows:

(a) If a decedent is survived by:

(1) A spouse and issue, fifty thousand dollars and one-half of the residue to the spouse, and the balance thereof to the issue by representation.

(2) A spouse and no issue, the whole to the spouse.

(3) Issue and no spouse, the whole to the issue, by representation.

(4) One or both parents, and no spouse and no issue, the whole to the surviving parent or parents.

(5) Issue of parents, and no spouse, issue or parent, the whole to the issue of the parents, by representation.

(6) One or more grandparents or the issue of grandparents (as hereinafter defined), and no spouse, issue, parent or issue of parents, onehalf to the surviving grandparent or grandparents of one parental side, or if neither of them survives the decedent, to their issue, by representation, and the other one-half to the surviving grandparent or grandparents of the other parental side, or if neither of them survives the decedent, to their issue, by representation; provided that if the decedent was not survived by a grandparent or grandparents on one side or by the issue of such grandparents, the whole to the surviving grandparent or grandparents on the other side, or if neither of them survives the decedent, to their issue, by representation, in the same manner as the one-half. For the purposes of this subparagraph, issue of grandparents shall not include issue more remote than grandchildren of such grandparents.

(7) Great-grandchildren of grandparents, and no spouse, issue, parent, issue of parents, grandparent, children of grandparents or grandchildren of grandparents, one-half to the great-grandchildren of the grandparents of one parental side, per capita, and the other one-half to the great-grandchildren of the grandparents of the other parental side, per capita; provided that if the decedent was not survived by great-grandchildren of grandparents on one side, the whole to the great-grandchildren of grandparents on the other side, in the same manner as the one-half.

(b) For all purposes of this section, decedent’s relatives of the half blood shall be treated as if they were relatives of the whole blood.

(c) Distributees of the decedent, conceived before his or her death but born alive thereafter, take as if they were born in his or her lifetime.

(d) The right of an adopted child to take a distributive share and the right of succession to the estate of an adopted child continue as provided in the domestic relations law.

(e) A distributive share passing to a surviving spouse under this section is in lieu of any right of dower to which such spouse may be entitled.

Under NYS law following are not subject to probate: Tenancy by the Entireties (Joint ownership for spouses applies to real estate, bank accounts) ) , Transfer on Death (Bank Accounts), Beneficiary (Life insurance, Annuity), Pay on Death (Bank Accounts), Joint title with right of survivorship (bank accounts, real estate), Homestead Property (primary residence of Florida domicile).

Everything else goes through probate.

R215

What's that supposed to mean? Just because ALT and LV were men of color they somehow should have hooked up?

Luther Vandross was never a pretentious, affected climbing bore like ALT. In his day LV was also a rather attractive man, yes he had his battles with weight and health issues, but still.

Don't believe LV was "lonely" either, well not same as ALT anyway.

Someone link here when his caftans and Manolos are auctioned off.

His caftans have already been donated to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. They’ll be used to house thousands of refugees in Syria, Yemen, and Sudan.

As a side note,way back in the stone age I had a job for about a year and a half where I traveled all over the state of florida closing out estates of people who died with no heirs. I had gotten it thru a lawyer I knew . I was paid a daily stipend for room,board etc but if the power was still on and the place wasnt terrible,Id just save it and stay there. It was fun going thru and packing up everything. Unfortunately I must confess I also stole quite a bit. 95% of the places were modest condos,homes,trailers,etc,but youd be surprised some of the stuff those poor old farts had. I once found an old Alka Seltzer glass bottle full of gold coins from all over the world. Since it was wrapped in newspaper from the 40s I knew no one had any idea it existed. I would do an inventory ,donate the regular crap to goodwill or whoever,and turn in valuables to the lawyer . Antiques and what not I would have dealers come in and make an offer,submit it to the lawyer and if he said go ahead sell them and turn over the check to his office.He allegedly was giving it to the state,but Ive no doubt he was pocketing as much as I was. Id have kept that job but I met my first husband and he wanted more time. Sorry for the book,but I wondered if thats whats going to happen to ALT things.

I think the owners of the house are going to want to send in a team to sniff out if anything is of value or if the entire collections are moth eaten and covered with Macassar stains and reeking of OLD FAT MAN and vintage Chanel Antaeus.

R222

That sort of behaviour by persons with low morals is why in many areas two or more persons are always present when court appointed administrators are charged with clearing out property of deceased with no heirs.

See linked video story in following DL thread.

Or course stealing from the dead goes back centuries, but still is disgusting.

R224Yes dear,it was repulsive of me but I was very young and very shallow and very addicted to partying and easy money. I didnt devote my life to stealing. Also,this was back in the early 80s and things were vastly different then. That lawyer was a crooked old bastard plugged into the Corn Bread Mafia (very much a thing back then) . I would say I was very sorry,but Im not. I had a hell of a good time and regret nothing. Those folks didnt have any relatives and the state would have stole it anyway.

Flamboyance and pretention doesn't equal talent. He was only marginally talented, and was pampered and indulged far beyond his abilities. He had absolutely nothing to gripe about, and certainly not from Wintour. She was one of the most indulgent to him.

I never thought Scavullo was as talented as the lesser known Kenn Duncan of After Dark magazine fame. I always thought Duncan took better posed photos.

Kenn Duncan is a name more people should know. They've probably seen his work however so that counts for something.

After Dark magazine, now that you back....

Mr Caulfield by Kenn Duncan

From Town and Country

"As much as his childhood church, his hometown library, and his beloved grandmother, those harrowing incidents, coupled with his mother’s stone-cold rejections of him, formed the man he became. And the piles of Louis Vuitton luggage, sumptuous linens, precious furs, prized books, and cherished pictures that he kept in his White Plains house seem, in retrospect, like compensatory totems, security objects accumulated to fill an emotional void. Even at the end, when he was impecunious, he resisted selling off his treasures."

Impecunious ='s broke, busted, hard up, Queer Street, embarrassed, reduced circumstances, genteel poverty...

[quote]She has the audacity not to be wearing all black?

Anna is on record saying that she will never wear all black.