The Gathery Inc., a small business producing events, is suing designer Aurora James and two organizations over allegedly unpaid charity-gala bills. The lawsuit seeks at least $1,082,965 in damages, according to court documents described by Fox News Digital.
The dispute concerns production of the Fifteen Percent Pledge Gala 2026 at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles. The February event was intended to raise money for Black business owners.
The Fox News report identifies three defendants: James, Fifteen Percent Pledge and its fiscal sponsor, Philanthropic Ventures Foundation. The Gathery filed the case in New York Supreme Court.
Event Producer Alleges Payments Stopped Before the Gala
The Gathery says the nonprofit made two initial deposits toward a $1.5 million bill. The complaint alleges that payments then stopped in November 2025.
The company had produced the annual fundraiser in 2024 and 2025 without issue, according to the report. Its current claim concerns the bills associated with the 2026 event.
The damages request also includes contractually owed interest and additional financial damages. The amount sought is a claim in the lawsuit, rather than a court award.
According to the complaint, James personally directed the project and encouraged The Gathery to continue after payment defaults began. The suit also alleges that she approved changes expanding the event’s scope and cost.
The complaint points to an amendment dated Feb. 4, 2026. It alleges that James signed that amendment admitting breach and continued assuring the event producer that payment would arrive.
The plaintiffs further allege that those assurances came despite knowledge, or reckless disregard, of the nonprofit’s inability to pay. These allegations have not been established by the reporting as court findings.
The Nonprofit’s Mission Centers on Black-Owned Businesses
James founded Fifteen Percent Pledge in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd. Its goal was to encourage retailers to dedicate 15% of shelf space to products from Black-owned businesses.
The organization describes itself as a racial-equity and economic-justice nonprofit. Its stated mission concerns a more equitable economic future.
The gala at issue was held to raise money for Black business owners. Fox News reported that attendees included Meghan Markle and Kimora Lee Simmons.
James is also known for designing the “Tax the Rich” dress worn by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at the 2021 Met Gala. That connection appears in the report’s discussion of her public profile.
Commentators Distinguish Allegations From Proof
Former Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg told Fox News that the accusations still need to be proved in court. He also noted the tension between the nonprofit’s mission and the event producer’s claim.
Former political organizer Kaivon Shroff similarly discussed the possible effect on public credibility. His comments concerned the allegations and James’s public advocacy for economic justice.
Fox News said it contacted James’s attorney for comment but did not immediately receive a response. The account therefore presents the event producer’s allegations without an attorney response to those claims.
The central unresolved issue is the payment dispute described in The Gathery’s complaint. The company is seeking damages and interest from James, the nonprofit and its fiscal sponsor.