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American singer and actress Selena Gomez, her mother Mandy Teefey and former business partner Daniella Pierson are facing a lawsuit from investors in Wondermind, a mental health startup co-founded by Gomez. The investors have accused the three of misleading them about the company’s financial condition, business activities and future plans. The lawsuit was filed in a Delaware court on Thursday. According to the complaint, two groups of investors collectively invested nearly $1.2 million in Wondermind. They allege that the company’s founders and executives made representations about its business that did not match reality. The investors have brought several claims, including securities fraud, common-law fraud and breach of contract. They allege that they were kept unaware of serious problems within the company while their money continued to fund its operations. Wondermind was launched in 2021 with a focus on mental fitness. The company promotes practical ways for people to prioritise their mental wellbeing in everyday life. Gomez is identified as a co-founder of the startup, while Teefey served as its chief executive. Pierson was also a co-founder but left the company in 2023 following reported disagreements with Teefey. The investors claim they were encouraged to put money into Wondermind after being told about major commercial opportunities. These allegedly included partnerships with companies such as JPMorgan, advertising arrangements, celebrity magazine features and plans for a major mobile application. According to the lawsuit, those opportunities either did not exist or failed to materialise. The investors also allege that the promised app was never developed. The complaint claims the investors only became aware of the company’s internal problems after a September report examined disputes within Wondermind and allegations of mismanagement. The investors subsequently contacted Teefey in November and requested that their money be returned. They say Teefey initially indicated that she would respond within 10 days but did not provide a substantive response. The complaint states that Teefey later replied to another notice in April, saying she believed the investment had already been returned. She reportedly referred further questions to Gomez’s legal team. The investors allege that Teefey later said Wondermind had established an escrow account to facilitate repayment. However, they claim repeated requests for information about the account went unanswered. The plaintiffs allege that no such escrow account existed and describe the events as part of an alleged years-long scheme to mislead investors. The lawsuit seeks repayment of the investors’ original funds, along with additional damages and legal costs.

SEOUL: K-pop boy band Cortis is challenging a growing concert habit by asking fans to put their phones away and experience performances without constantly recording them. The group made the message central to its ongoing global tour, which is also titled “Put Your Phone Down.” The tour began in Incheon on July 18 and is scheduled to travel to several international cities before returning to Seoul later this month. During the opening show, one of the members repeatedly called on the audience to put their phones down. While some fans followed the request, thousands continued filming the performance on their devices. The band’s message has sparked debate among fans, particularly within K-pop culture, where concert videos and fancams play an important role. Fans frequently record their favourite artists and share the footage online, where clips are used to revisit performances, study choreography and capture moments that might otherwise be forgotten. Some concertgoers said recording was important because live shows can be rare and expensive experiences. One 22-year-old fan said she had even rented a high-end smartphone specifically to capture Cortis’s performances. She explained that she records concerts because memories of the event can fade quickly once the show ends. Others welcomed the group’s approach. A 25-year-old concertgoer said she noticed fans dancing and enjoying themselves more freely when they were not focused on their screens. The debate reflects a wider discussion in the global music industry. Several international artists have introduced restrictions on phone use during concerts, including systems that place devices inside locked pouches for the duration of performances. Cortis, however, appears to be taking a less restrictive approach. Rather than completely banning phones, the group has encouraged fans to treat putting their devices away as a way of being more present during the show. The band’s message also softened during its second concert. According to fans who attended, the members acknowledged that people naturally wanted to record the performances but urged them to maintain a balance between filming and enjoying the experience. The group has rapidly gained attention since making its debut under BigHit Music. Its members are mostly teenagers, while the oldest member, James, is 20. Cortis has also expanded its international profile, recently performing at the Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago. The band’s name comes from the phrase “colour outside the lines,” reflecting its stated image of challenging conventions. Its campaign against excessive phone use appears to follow that same spirit. Rather than treating concert filming as simply right or wrong, Cortis is encouraging fans to remember that a live performance is also about direct interaction between artists and their audience.