Selena Gomez sued for alleged fraud over Wondermind
Five investors sue Selena Gomez seeking $1.2m, alleging fraud, contract breach, and hidden financial collapse at startup Wondermind.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Five investors file a lawsuit against Selena Gomez and Wondermind co-founders
- Lawsuit seeks to recover approximately $1.2m in investments and damages
- Claimants state the company quietly collapsed without notifying backers
Five investors based in New York and Florida, including Brent Saunders, CEO of eye-health firm Bausch + Lomb, have filed a lawsuit against Hollywood actress and pop singer Selena Gomez and other co-founders of the mental health venture Wondermind Global, alleging fraud and breach of contract.
The legal action seeks to recover around $1.2m (£890,000) in claimed investments, alongside legal costs and damages. Wondermind was established five years ago by Gomez, her mother Mandy Teefey, and businesswoman Daniella Pierson, aiming to make mental health content more accessible following Gomez's public disclosures about her own struggles with bipolar disorder.
According to the court filing, Gomez allegedly signed a contract obligating her to perform duties for the platform but subsequently ignored it. Gomez is currently listed as a co-founder on the Wondermind website beneath her mother, who serves as chief executive following Pierson's departure. The lawsuit claims that promised app developments and business partnerships never materialised.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
"Gomez purported to sign a contract obligating her to perform and then ignored it."
Lawsuit court document
The investors stated they remained completely unaware of the firm's mounting troubles until an investigative feature published by online magazine The Cut in September 2025 exposed allegations regarding Wondermind's financial status and management difficulties, noting that the enterprise lacked any coherent long-term valuation plan.
This legal dispute underscores the inherent risks associated with celebrity-backed startups, where high-profile branding can sometimes overshadow operational realities. In sectors like digital mental health, transparency and active engagement from founders are critical for maintaining investor trust and ensuring sustainable corporate governance.
The BBC has reached out to representatives for Wondermind and Selena Gomez for comment regarding the allegations.
Source: BBC Business
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