Selena Gomez has asked a judge to dismiss the “absurd” fraud lawsuit filed against her and her mother over their mental health startup Wondermind.
Two weeks after investors in Selena Gomez’s mental health startup, Wondermind, filed a federal lawsuit alleging fraud, the singer has asked a judge to dismiss the case. In a motion filed in Delaware federal court on Wednesday, Gomez’s attorneys asked a judge to dismiss the lawsuit brought by investors of Wondermind, who claim they were misled into investing nearly $1.2 million in the company after a series of false promises regarding resources and leadership.
The lawsuit names Gomez, her mother Mandy Teefey, and their former business partner, Daniella Pierson, with claims including common-law fraud, breach of contract, and securities fraud.
“The notion that Selena engaged in ‘fraud’ or any other wrongdoing is absurd—and in addition to filing our motion, we are exploring other avenues of relief for Ms. Gomez, including sanctions against plaintiffs for improperly including her,” said Gomez’s attorney, Mathew S. Rosengart.
Further, Gomez’s lawyers argue that the lawsuit fails to specify any false statements that Gomez personally made to investors and note that she was not even a member of the board. The motion adds that Gomez never agreed to manage Wondermind and did not hold a minority stake in the company.
“[The] vague, generalized, and contradictory allegations concerning Selena Gomez demonstrate that Ms. Gomez could not possibly have engaged in any ‘fraud’ (she did not), is not liable to plaintiffs (she is not) and, as a matter of law, must be dismissed from this lawsuit,” the motion reads.
The motion also notes that Gomez’s mother and Pierson handled management as Wondermind’s co-CEOs and board members, and Gomez herself was retained “as a consultant” with the title of “Chief Impact Officer.”
Gomez’s motion asks the judge to dismiss all four claims brought against the singer with prejudice, meaning they could not be refiled.
Wondermind, Teefey, and Pierson did not respond to requests for comment. However, Pierson previously denied any wrongdoing and said she “welcomes the opportunity to present concrete documentation and financial records that establish the facts.”
