NO WONDER THERE

Pop Star Slams Lawsuit Claiming She Deceived Investors

Selena Gomez is fighting allegations that she and her mother misled investors over their struggling mental health startup.

Selena Gomez has responded to accusations that she and her mother, Mandy Teefey, deceived investors into contributing more than $1 million to their struggling mental health startup, Wondermind. In a statement to People, Gomez’s attorney, Mathew S. Rosengart, called the lawsuit filed by Wondermind SRS 44 LLC and Bespoke Wondermind LLC “meritless, both factually and legally,” and said he plans to seek its dismissal. The two companies sued Gomez, Teefey, and their former business partner Daniella Pierson earlier this week, alleging that investors were misled about the startup’s infrastructure, leadership, partnerships, and resources. The plaintiffs claim they invested nearly $1.2 million after receiving false assurances about the company’s prospects and operations, and were kept in the dark as it “quietly collapsed around them.” The Cut’s investigation into Wondermind last year offered a glimpse into the company’s struggles, reporting that employees had repeatedly gone unpaid on time and that the startup had faced mounting financial and operational problems. Former employees also criticized Teefey’s leadership, with some questioning her ability to run the company. Teefey has yet to comment publicly on the lawsuit, while Pierson, who co-founded Wondermind and stepped down in 2023 after reportedly clashing with Teefey, has “categorically” denied the allegations.