Aurora James faces lawsuit over $1 million in unpaid gala debts

Designer Aurora James and her nonprofit, The 15 Percent Pledge, are facing a lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Court filed by event planning company The Gathery, Inc. The lawsuit alleges that James owes more than $1 million in unpaid fees related to a gala held on February 7, 2026, at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles.

The gala, which honored Tina Knowles and was hosted by Abby Phillip, had an initial bill of $1.5 million. According to court records, the nonprofit made two initial payments before defaulting. The Gathery claims that James personally directed the project and encouraged the company to continue providing services and advancing vendor costs even after it became clear that payments were not being made. The lawsuit asserts that James approved change orders that expanded the scope and cost of the event despite the ongoing payment issues.