Selena Gomez and mother sued by investors over $1.2 million Wondermind fraud claims

Investors have filed a lawsuit accusing pop star Selena Gomez, her mother Mandy Teefey, and Daniella Pierson, founder of The Newsette, of securities fraud related to the failed mental health startup Wondermind. The plaintiffs, Wondermind SRS 44 LLC and Bespoke Wondermind LLC, allege they were misled into investing nearly $1.2 million after being promised landmark advertising deals and high-profile content that never materialised. Launched in 2021, Wondermind was marketed as a platform to destigmatise mental health through podcasts, articles, and TV shows, but instead faced severe mismanagement, including delayed employee salaries and deteriorating operations.

According to the lawsuit, investors were kept in the dark for three years as the company collapsed, with no communication from any founder, officer, or director despite their funding. A 2025 report by The Cut exposed internal chaos, citing staff accounts of Teefey's alleged substance abuse and poor leadership, including an incident where an employee saw her snort an unknown substance. The report also accused Gomez of neglecting her responsibilities and actively distancing herself from the company. Investors claim they only became aware of the company's disarray after The Cut's publication revealed the extent of the dysfunction. They are now seeking damages and a full refund of their $1.2 million investment.

The lawsuit names all three women as directly involved in misleading investors, with allegations centred on false representations about Wondermind's financial health and operational success. No public response from Gomez, Teefey, or Pierson has been reported.

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