Aurora James Faces $1.08 Million Lawsuit Over Unpaid Charity Gala Bills

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 24

The Gathery sued Aurora James, Fifteen Percent Pledge and fiscal sponsor Philanthropic Ventures Foundation in New York Supreme Court, seeking at least $1,082,965 plus interest over unpaid bills tied to the 2026 gala.
Court filings say the event planner was hired for a roughly $1.5 million Paramount Studios fundraiser, received two initial deposits, then saw payments stop in November 2025 while work continued.
The suit alleges James personally directed the project, approved cost-expanding change orders and signed a Feb. 4, 2026 amendment acknowledging breach while assuring the vendor payment would come.
The February gala drew guests including Meghan Markle and Kimora Lee Simmons and was meant to raise money for Black business owners through James' Fifteen Percent Pledge nonprofit.
The case adds to earlier reports of tax debts and other payment-related claims involving James' business operations, sharpening scrutiny of a designer closely associated with AOC's 2021 'Tax the Rich' dress.