By The Epoch Times | Created at 2026-08-14 16:31:51 | Updated at 2026-08-14 17:26:19
1 hour ago
Selena Gomez departs the “Emilia Perez” Red Carpet at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival in France on May 18, 2024. Kristy Sparow/Getty Images
Singer and actor Selena Gomez was sued Thursday by investors who say the “Only Murders in the Building” star committed fraud by failing to fulfill duties to build and promote her mental health startup.
The plaintiffs invested nearly $1.2 million in Wondermind Global, which was launched in 2021 to help users improve their “mental fitness.”
Investors said they put money into the startup believing that Gomez’s involvement would drive growth. Her role as head of marketing was presented as central, and the sheer size of her social media audience—500 million followers—was part of the pitch.
They argue that Gomez and other company leaders did not deliver any of what they had promised, including a mobile app.
“There was no legitimate enterprise in the works, much less a lucrative one,” the plaintiffs said.
They said the company failed to meet “even its most basic obligations, such as timely paying its employees and vendors.”
The lawsuit maintains that shortfalls left no real business. The investors describe an enterprise that never got off the ground.
Investors said they were assured Gomez would actively promote the venture as head of marketing and “chief impact officer.” The complaint alleges she signed a contract but largely failed to perform those duties.
“Gomez purported to sign a contract obligating her to perform and then ignored it,” the
lawsuitsaid.
The lawsuit also names Gomez’s mother, Mandy Teefey, a co-chief executive, and former business partner Daniella Pierson as defendants, along with Wondermind Global itself. Court papers allege the defendants overstated the company’s 2022 valuation at $95 million and claimed partnerships with firms such as JPMorgan Chase and Fidelity that never existed.
Plaintiffs maintain they remained unaware of operational shortfalls—including late payments to employees and vendors—until a September 2025 article in The Cut described the company’s collapse and related internal conflicts. Teefey previously disputed aspects of that reporting in a statement to media outlets. Pierson, who departed in 2023, denied the claims against her in a statement to news outlets on Thursday and said she welcomes the chance to present financial records.
Representatives for Gomez and Teefey could not be reached for comment.
Wondermind debuted in 2021 to offer newsletter-based mental health resources. The case was brought in Delaware federal court. It seeks a jury trial, repayment of the nearly $1.2 million investment, additional damages, and attorney fees.
