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Tattle | Brother: Michael Jackson should be Muslim

ONE OF THE big stories lost in the tale of Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty's winning the British version of "Celebrity Big Brother," despite her claims of racism, is that her runner-up was Jermaine Jackson.

ONE OF THE big stories lost in the tale of Bollywood star

Shilpa Shetty

's winning the British version of "Celebrity Big Brother," despite her claims of racism, is that her runner-up was

Jermaine Jackson

.

Brother of Michael, Tito, Marlon, Jackie, Randy, Janet and LaToya.

After winning second place, Jermaine spoke with the BBC Asian Network about what Michael, the former King of Pop, needed to do to improve his life, Reuters reported:

Become a Muslim.

"I think it's a great protection for him from all the things that he's been attacked with, which are false," Jermaine said.

"There's a strength and protection there," he said.

Jermaine added that he believes Michael has given conversion "serious thought."

"I was the reason why he had gone [to Bahrain, where Jermaine lives] because I wanted him to get out of America and just go somewhere it's peaceful and quiet and people pray five times a day, which is beautiful."

Jermaine added that his own conversion helped him make it through "Big Brother."

"If I didn't have Allah and my prayer rug," he said, "I would not have survived, and the reason why is because it kept me focused, it kept me calm."

Police want Brandy

As Tattle told you a few days ago, Brandy was involved in a California freeway car crash that led to the death of 38-year-old Awatef Aboudihaj.

Yesterday, the California Highway Patrol recommended that she be charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter.

The highway patrol referred the matter to the Los Angeles city attorney's office for review, said spokesman Nick Velas-

quez.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of one year in the county jail and a $1,000 fine, Velasquez said.

Tattle suits

Attorneys for Grammy winner Toni Braxton are moving her lawsuit against her former manager, Barry Hankerson, and Blackground Records from federal court to New York State Court.

"We think this is the fastest route to getting Toni Braxton free and clear of Barry Hankerson," said attorney Peter L. Haviland, "since we avoid wasting time on any possible dispute over federal jurisdiction of her claims."

The fraud/breach of contract suit seeks $10 million in damages.

* Model Niki Taylor, meanwhile, filed a federal slander lawsuit against E! Entertainment for allegedly intentional infliction of emotional distress with its profile of her in the new series "Boulevard of Broken Dreams."

The suit, filed Friday, also alleged fraud, breach of contract, and invasion of privacy, claiming that E! Entertainment representatives falsely claimed that the show would focus on Taylor's current, contented, life.

Instead Niki was characterized by a producer as a celebrity "who risked everything . . . and lost."

She replied, in a statement, "My life is far from a 'boulevard of broken dreams.' "

Should old acquaintance be forgot

The bummer thing about being named the world's oldest person is that you never hold the title for long.

No victory lap for you. Unless the track is really short.

Emma Faust Tillman, one of 23 children born to former slaves, died at a Hartford, Conn., nursing home just four days after the death of 115-year-old Emiliano Mercado del Toro of Puerto Rico. Emma was 114.

Her four-day reign was the shortest on record, said Robert Young, senior consultant for gerontology for Guinness World Records.

Amazingly, Emma lived independently until she was 110 and attributed her longevity to God's will. Never smoking or drinking may have helped.

Although a number of her siblings died at birth or when very young, good genes obviously ran in the family - Emma's brother lived to be 108, one sister reached 105, and two others reached 102.

For a little historical perspective, Tillman was born during the presidency of Benjamin Harrison. As an adult, she ran her own baking and catering service. One of her customers? Katharine Hepburn's father.

The new world's oldest person, according to Guinness, is believed to be Yone Minagawa of Fukuoka, Japan. She's also 114.

Tattbits

* According to an Associated Press headline yesterday, "Nielsen to begin measuring ratings of college students away from home."

It's about time. We remember college students who were 6s at home, but once they got away, they were 10s.

* The inmates have spoken: Lindsay Lohan is ruining rehab.

An ex-resident of the Wonderland facility in L.A. tells TMZ.com that she left treatment early because of Lindsay's distractions. The source goes on to say that once TMZ.com broke the story of the special treatment Lindsay was getting, everyone at Wonderland was given special treatment.

"Wonderland has become a joke," said the source. "While I'm trying to save my life, she's trying to save her face."

* Tattle spent part of Sunday looking at Center City condos.

Couldn't afford most of them.

It does warm our heart, however, to learn from TMZ.com that Courteney Cox and David Arquette are selling their 4BR 5BTH Malibu mansion for $33.5 million - more than a $20 million profit.

Now, granted, the condos we looked at didn't come with 80 feet of beachfront property, but with global warming it's only a matter of time. *

Daily News wire services contributed to this report.

Send e-mail to gensleh@phillynews.com