'Billionaire' Selena Gomez slammed after report says her company failed to pay its staff, mom took loan to pay off debts
Selena Gomez is facing backlash over the financial crisis her mental health startup, Wondermind, is facing currently.
Singer-actor Selena Gomez is facing backlash after a recent report claimed that her mental health startup has been unable to pay its employees and has also reduced their health benefits. Selena, one of the richest musicians in the world, has been criticised online after a Forbes report claimed that her mother took a loan to pay off some of the business debts.
Selena Gomez's startup fails to pay staff: Report
Forbes reported over the weekend that Wondermind, a mental health startup cofounded by Selena Gomez, is facing a financial crisis. The report said that the startup 'is being kept afloat by Gomez’s mom and Wondermind’s CEO Mandy Teefey'. She reportedly told staff on Thursday that she took out a loan against her home to pay back its outstanding debts. An insider has since told People that this claim is false. Forbes added that employees have been paid for one missing paycheck, but another is still pending.
The report quoted a spokesperson of Wondermind saying that the situation has been 'rectified'. “Like many startups, Wondermind has been working through its own set of growing pains,” the spokesperson told Forbes in a written statement, adding that “in the coming days we will be transitioning into a new chapter for Wondermind, and continuing our important work in mental fitness that helps hundreds of thousands of people.”
Selena Gomez slammed online
Last year, Bloomberg listed Selena among its list of billionaires in the entertainment world, estimating her net worth at $1.3 billion. Other estimates range from $700 million to $1 billion. Regardless, Selena remains one of the wealthiest people in entertainment. Due to this, the singer faced a huge amount of trolling online.
On Reddit, one person commented, "Billionaires billionaring again." Another added, "It's ridiculous Selena started this company and can't even be assed to meet or pay her employees or to do even basic promo for her own company. She is one of the richest people in America, this is unacceptable."
There were many comments criticising Selena for her apparent non-involvement in the startup. "If she’s that invested in the charity she should just fund it. If she’s not then give the employees plenty of notice and wind it up. Not paying them is unacceptable," wrote one Reddit user.
Selena has not commented on the matter so far.
