Selena Gomez plans to move to dismiss a Delaware fraud lawsuit tied to Wondermind.
Why it matters: The case tests how far celebrity co-founders can become liability magnets when investors say they relied on their public-facing role. It also puts startup disclosure claims under a federal court microscope in Delaware.
- A federal lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware and Gomez says the claims are "completely meritless."
- Investors say they put about $1.2 million into Wondermind in 2022.
- The complaint alleges they were misled about Gomez's level of involvement and Wondermind's prospects.
- Wondermind says it launched in 2021 as a mental-health startup co-founded by Gomez, Mandy Teefey and Daniella Pierson.
Selena Gomez is pushing back against a federal fraud lawsuit tied to Wondermind, the mental-health startup she co-founded with Mandy Teefey and Daniella Pierson. Variety reported that Gomez intends to move to dismiss the case and called the allegations "completely meritless." Variety
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, says investors put about $1.2 million into Wondermind in 2022. It alleges they were misled about Gomez's level of involvement in the company and about Wondermind's prospects, according to reporting on the filing by El País.
Wondermind describes itself on its own site as a mental-health startup founded in 2021 by Gomez, Teefey and Pierson. The company's founding story is available on Wondermind's website.
That makes the dispute a familiar risk for celebrity-backed startups: when investors say a well-known founder's public role helped seal the deal, that visibility can become part of a fraud claim. Earlier coverage has also described financial strain at Wondermind, including missed payroll and layoffs, adding context to the company's investor fight. Forbes Australia
By the numbers
- $1.2 million - Amount investors say they put into Wondermind in 2022
- 2021 - Year Wondermind says it launched
- 2026 - Year the Delaware federal lawsuit was filed
Yes, but: The published reporting does not include a direct court docket link or the full complaint text, so the allegations are being summarized through secondary coverage.
What's next: Gomez is expected to file a motion to dismiss the case.