Aurora James, the designer behind Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's "Tax the Rich" Met Gala dress, faces a civil lawsuit accusing her nonprofit of leaving event planner The Gathery Inc. with a seven-figure bill. The suit, filed in New York Supreme Court, alleges that James, the 15 Percent Pledge, and fiscal sponsor Philanthropic Ventures Foundation failed to pay for the "15 Percent Pledge Gala 2026" held at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles in February. The Gathery is seeking at least $1,082,965.28 in damages, plus contractually owed interest and additional financial damages.
According to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital, the 15 Percent Pledge made two initial deposits toward a $1.5 million total but ceased all payments in November 2025. The organizer produced the annual fundraiser without issue in 2024 and 2025. The February event attracted high-profile attendees, including Meghan Markle and Kimora Lee Simmons, with the stated intention of raising money for Black business owners.
The lawsuit claims James personally directed the project and induced The Gathery to continue performing despite payment defaults. The suit states that James approved change orders expanding the event's scope and cost and signed a February 4, 2026 amendment admitting breach while assuring payment would be forthcoming. The document alleges she did so while knowing, or recklessly disregarding, that the nonprofit lacked the ability to pay.
James founded the 15 Percent Pledge in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd. The organization aims to encourage retailers to dedicate 15% of shelf space to products from Black-owned businesses. Its website describes it as a racial equity and economic justice nonprofit working toward a more equitable economic future.
This is not the first time James has faced allegations regarding unpaid debts. In 2021, The New York Post reported that Cultural Brokerage Agency, the parent company of her Brother Vellies fashion brand, had run up tax debts. These included three open state tax warrants from 2018-19 totaling $14,798 in unpaid employee withholding and 15 warrants since 2015. The company has also reportedly faced multiple legal claims alleging it failed to pay worker benefits.
Former Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg noted the irony of an organization dedicated to supporting small businesses being accused of stiffing one for over $1 million. "If you preach economic fairness, you have to practice it too," Aronberg told Fox News Digital. He emphasized that these remain allegations that must be proven in court.
Kaivon Shroff, a former digital organizer for Hillary Clinton's campaign, also highlighted the contradiction between James's public brand and the lawsuit. Shroff noted that Ocasio-Cortez's dress made the "Tax the Rich" message a defining political image of economic inequality. "That is exactly the kind of contradiction opponents seize on to argue that the politics are performative," Shroff said. He added that when individuals associated with economic fairness causes are accused of behavior at odds with their message, it allows critics to discredit the cause itself.
Fox News Digital contacted James' attorney for comment but had not received a response at press time.