A federal judge in Los Angeles has dismissed a $27 million defamation lawsuit filed against comedian Learnmore Jonasi by Lebohang Morake, known as Lebo M. The suit concerned Jonasi's translation of a Zulu chant from Disney's "The Lion King."

A federal judge in Los Angeles has dismissed a $27 million defamation lawsuit brought against comedian Learnmore Jonasi by South African singer and composer Lebohang Morake, professionally known as Lebo M. The ruling, issued Friday, threw out the suit Morake filed in March. The dispute centered on Jonasi's comedic translation of a Zulu chant from Disney's "The Lion King."

Lawsuit Dismissal and Legal Fees

U.S. District Judge Josephine Staton's order stated that the parties had "fully discussed the matter" and agreed to voluntarily dismiss the case. The dismissal was effective immediately and would not affect Jonasi’s right to seek legal expenses. Bryan Sullivan, Jonasi's lawyer, called the decision a vindication of his client’s right to free speech, stating they always believed it was a "frivolous lawsuit" violating First Amendment rights. Jonasi will now seek attorneys’ fees under California’s anti-SLAPP statute, which is designed to deter lawsuits aimed at silencing public speech.

Origin of the Dispute

The lawsuit stemmed from Jonasi's appearance on the One54 Africa podcast, where he offered a less majestic translation of the Zulu chant, "Nants’ingonyama bagithi Baba," which opens "Circle of Life" in Disney’s The Lion King. Jonasi said the line translates to, "Look, there’s a lion. Oh, my God." A clip of this exchange later circulated on social media. Morake, whose Zulu chant opens the song, stated the line actually translates to, "All hail the king, we all bow in the presence of the king."

Morake's Allegations and Concerns

Morake's lawsuit accused Jonasi of promoting a false translation with reckless disregard for the truth and Morake’s reputation. In the 19-page complaint, Morake argued that Jonasi presented the translation as fact during a conversational podcast, not as part of a stand-up routine. The lawsuit claimed Jonasi presented it as "factual knowledge with misguided authenticity to increase exposure and mockery of Lebo M’s creative masterpiece," creating a false narrative around his work and amounting to Jonasi "spitting on" it. Morake also expressed concern that the controversy could jeopardize his longstanding relationship with Disney, including his recent work on Mufasa: The Lion King, stating, "This is not free speech, because the statements by defendant are false, vicious, and intended to cause significant harm to the legacy of Lebo M."

Jonasi's Response and Fundraising

Jonasi previously shared a video on TikTok showing himself being served with the lawsuit while performing onstage at The Laugh Factory. He also started a GoFundMe fundraiser to gather a legal war chest to fight the complaint, writing that "What started as a bit of humor has escalated into a devastating legal battle." Jonasi also turned the dispute into merchandise, selling T-shirts bearing the words, "Look, it’s a Lawsuit. Oh, my God," featuring a cartoon of him holding legal papers. He promoted these shirts on Instagram, stating they could help him pay legal fees.