Exclusive | AOCs Tax the Rich dress designer sued for $1m

Is it “Tax the Rich” or “Don’t Pay Your Vendors”?Fashion designer Aurora James — who created AOC’s infamous “Tax the Rich” Met Gala gown — is being sued for $1 million for allegedly stiffing the event planners of her celebrity mega bash, The Post can reveal.In February, James hosted the “15 Percent Pledge Gala 2026″ in Los Angeles with the aim of raising cash for black business owners.Meghan Markle was in attendance, while Beyoncé’s mom Tina Knowles was honored at the event.However, in court papers seen by The Post, party organizers The Gathery insist they are owed hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Their lawsuit claims that a “fraudulent” James “repeatedly induced” them to continue working, “all while knowing, or recklessly disregarding, that 15PP lacked the ability to pay.”The Gathery has filed a civil lawsuit in New York Supreme Court against James, 15 Percent Pledge, and its fiscal sponsor, Philanthropic Ventures Foundation (PVF).The complaint alleges that The Gathery produced the 2026 gala, advanced substantial vendor and production costs, and was left with $777,871.84 in unpaid principal, plus contractually owed interest, attorneys’ fees, and other claimed financial damages.The suit seeks $1,082,965.28 from James, Fifteen Percent Pledge and PVF.James, 42, founded the non-profit organization in June 2020 following the murder of George Floyd.It challenges retailers to dedicate 15% of their shelf space to black-owned entrepreneurs and creatives.Her clothes have been worn by everyone from Beyoncé and her sister, Solange Knowles, to Markle and Nicki Minaj.

But it was AOC who got her on the front pages back in 2021 when she donned the white gown emblazoned with ‘Tax The Rich’ to the Met Gala.This is not the first time that James — who owns a $1.6 million LA cottage that has been featured in Architectural Digest — has landed in hot water.In 2021, the Post reported that she had unpaid debts dogging her in multiple sta...