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Posted on 09/23/2026 4:24:07 PM PDT by Miami Rebel
The designer who became famous for her “Tax the Rich” message allegedly still hasn’t learned a basic financial lesson: pay your debts.
Aurora James, who outfitted Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) in her jaw-dropping 2021 Met Gala gown — a floor-length, ivory white dress with the words “Tax the Rich” emblazoned on the back in a stunning shade of red — allegedly owes more than $1 million for a ritzy gala benefitting her nonprofit, court records show.
James, 42, and her nonprofit the 15 Percent Pledge are facing a lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Court from high-end event planning company The Gathery, Inc., which claims the designer insisted it keep working on her event even after it became clear the group was having trouble paying its bill.
The Feb. 7 gala was hosted by CNN anchor Abby Phillip and featured big names including Meghan Markle, Kimora Lee Simmons and others.
The black tie affair was held at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles and honored Tina Knowles, mother of Beyoncé.
The Gathery claimed in its ongoing July 1 lawsuit that it “performed the extensive creative, strategic, and production services necessary to stage the event, advancing substantial vendor costs and committing significant resources to ensure the 2026 Gala’s success.”
James’ group, which is intended to help support Black-owned businesses, made two initial payments on its initial $1.5 million bill to The Gathery before the money stopped coming, according to the lawsuit.
The designer missed two payments but then “personally directed the project and repeatedly induced TGI to continue performing even after payment defaults had begun,” The Gathery claimed in its legal papers.
“James approved change orders expanding the scope and cost of the event, signed the Feb. 4, 2026, amendment admitting breach, and assured TGI that payment would be forthcoming—all while knowing, or recklessly disregarding, that 15PP lacked the ability to pay,” it
It’s not the first time James has failed to pay her debts.
In 2021 it was revealed she had open tax warrants in New York.
The February event was the third gala The Gathery had worked on for James and her 15 Percent Pledge, but the first time the group failed to pay, said attorney Barry O’Connell, who reps The Gathery.
“The Gathery was always excited about the relationship with 15 Percent Pledge. They were personal donors to the cause,” O’Connell told Mediaite, adding his client is just “a small business trying to survive.”
“There’s a lot of hypocrisy here,” he added.
A lawyer for James could not immediately be reached for comment.
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DANCE WITH THE DEVIL& GET BURNED
HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHH!!!! SO DAMN TYPICALOF DEMOCRATS!!!
Rev. Al Sharpton: "Doncha do nothin' I wouldn't do. You go, girl."
Mr. Sharpton has regularly sidestepped the sorts of obligations most people see as inevitable, like taxes, rent and other bills. Records reviewed by The New York Times show more than $4.5 million in current state and federal tax liens against him and his for-profit businesses. And though he said in recent interviews that he was paying both down, his balance with the state, at least, has actually grown in recent years. His National Action Network appears to have been sustained for years by not paying federal payroll taxes on its employees.
Source: As Sharpton Rose, So Did His Unpaid Taxes nytimes.com/2014/11/19/nyregion/questions-about-al-sharptons-finances-accompany-his-rise-in influence.html By Russ Buettner
USA Today (before Sharpton paid much of the debt off):
The Rev. Al Sharpton owes over $19 million in outstanding taxes; IRS seized Willie Nelson's assets over $16 million in tax debt.
The moral of this story:
If you are working for leftists, get your money up front.
Afterall the basic tenet of their ‘religion’ is: ‘people shouldn’t have to pay for anything’.
And if they run a ‘non-profit’, they think you shouldn’t make a profit either.
(Although, apparently, they do think it it is fine to skim the proceeds to fund their own lavish personal lifestyles.)
OTOH, she was smart enough to get someone or someones
To front her $1M. So she has that going for her…
The lesson is…. When you deal with such people, get your money up front.
LOL! There’s a sharp attorney!
For what? For giving birth to a celebrity?
I have met very few liberals who weren’t hypocrites.
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