Practice English with NewsPractice with News
EntertainmentBusiness217 words2 min read

Selena Gomez Responds to Fraud Claims About Her Mental Health Start-Up

woman in black spaghetti strap top
Photo by Jorge Salvador on Unsplash
0:00 / 0:00

Listen to the story

American singer and actress Selena Gomez has responded to fraud accusations related to her mental health start-up, Wondermind.

Investors in Wondermind have accused Selena Gomez of fraud connected to the company. Fraud means using dishonest methods to get money or an advantage.

Wondermind is a start-up dedicated to mental health. It was created to support people dealing with emotional and psychological challenges.

In response, Selena Gomez's lawyer spoke out to defend her. He said the accusations against her were baseless, meaning they have no proof or truth behind them.

The lawyer's statement pushed back strongly against the claims made by the investors. He denied that Selena Gomez had done anything wrong.

This news comes as a challenge for Selena Gomez, who is well known worldwide for her music and acting career, as well as her work in entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurship means starting and running a business, often with some risk involved. Wondermind was one of her major business projects.

The details of the fraud accusations from the investors have not been fully explained in public reports so far.

It remains unclear how this legal situation will develop. For now, Selena Gomez's team continues to reject the claims completely.

This case highlights the risks celebrities can face when they move from entertainment into business ventures like start-ups.

Vocabulary7 words

fraud
using lies or tricks to get money; against the law
investors
people who put money into a company hoping to earn more later
lawyer
a professional who deals with legal matters
baseless
having no proof or true support
entrepreneurship
the activity of starting and managing a business
start-up
a new company, often small and growing fast
mental health
a person's emotional and psychological well-being

Quiz

1. What is Wondermind?
2. Who made the fraud accusations against Selena Gomez?
3. How did Selena Gomez's lawyer describe the accusations?

Fill-in-the-blank listening

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

American singer and actress Selena Gomez has responded to _____ accusations related to her mental health start-up, Wondermind.

_____ in Wondermind have accused Selena Gomez of fraud connected to the company. Fraud means using dishonest methods to get money or an advantage.

Wondermind is a start-up dedicated to _____ health. It was created to support people dealing with emotional and psychological challenges.

In response, Selena Gomez's _____ spoke out to defend her. He said the accusations against her were _____, meaning they have no proof or truth behind them.

This news comes as a challenge for Selena Gomez, who is well known worldwide for her music and acting career, as well as her work in _____.

The details of the fraud accusations from the investors have not been fully explained in public reports so far.

Discussion questions

  1. Why do you think celebrities start businesses in fields like mental health?
  2. What risks might come with mixing fame and entrepreneurship?
  3. How important is it for public figures to respond quickly to accusations?
  4. Do you think fraud accusations against celebrities get more media attention? Why?

More Entertainment stories