Practice English with NewsPractice with News
BusinessEntertainment237 words2 min read

Selena Gomez Sued Over Mental Health Startup

0:00 / 0:00

Listen to the story

Actress and singer Selena Gomez, along with her mental health company Wondermind, is facing a lawsuit that accuses them of fraud, according to CNN.

The lawsuit claims that Gomez and Wondermind defrauded investors, meaning they allegedly lied or gave false information to get money from people who invested in the company.

Wondermind is a startup that focuses on mental health. It was created to help people understand and take care of their emotional wellbeing.

The people who put money into the company are called investors. In business, investors give money hoping the company will grow and make a profit later.

The lawsuit says these investors were misled, which means they were given false or unclear information about the company.

So far, the exact details of the case have not been fully shared. It is not known how much money is involved or what specific claims are being made.

The word allegedly is important here. It means something has been claimed but not yet proven in court.

Gomez and Wondermind have not made a public statement about the lawsuit, based on the information currently available.

This case adds to a growing number of legal issues involving celebrities who have started their own companies. Many stars have built businesses outside of entertainment, but such ventures can bring legal risks.

The case is expected to continue, and more details may come out as it moves through the courts.

Vocabulary6 words

lawsuit
a legal case brought to a court
defrauded
cheated someone to take their money
startup
a new company, often small
investors
people who give money to a business to help it grow
misled
given false or confusing information
allegedly
said to be true, but not proven yet

Quiz

1. What does Wondermind focus on?
2. What does the lawsuit accuse Gomez and Wondermind of doing?
3. True or False: The lawsuit has already been proven in court.

Fill-in-the-blank listening

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

Actress and singer Selena Gomez, along with her mental health company Wondermind, is facing a _____ that accuses them of fraud.

The lawsuit claims that Gomez and Wondermind _____ investors.

Wondermind is a _____ that focuses on mental health.

The people who put money into the company are called _____.

The lawsuit says these investors were _____.

It is not known how much _____ is involved.

The word _____ is important here.

Gomez and Wondermind have not made a public _____ about the lawsuit.

This case adds to a growing number of legal issues involving _____ who have started their own companies.

The case is expected to _____, and more details may come out.

Discussion questions

  1. Why do you think investors decide to put money into celebrity-founded startups?
  2. What risks do celebrities take when they start their own companies?
  3. How important is trust between a company and its investors?
  4. What might happen to Wondermind if the lawsuit succeeds?

More Business stories

Next story · Medium

Dodgers and Brewers Play Key Series for Playoff Position

→