Learnmore Jonasi slammed with $27M lawsuit over viral ‘Lion King’ joke: See video
According to court filings, the composer argues the chant is a royal proclamation meaning “All hail the king”, and claims Learnmore Jonasi’s viral joke diminished its cultural significance and impacted business relationships.
A viral comedy bit has escalated into a multi-million-dollar legal battle. Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi is facing a $27 million lawsuit after a joke about Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ sparked global controversy.
The lawsuit was filed by GRAMMY-winning composer Lebohang Morake, widely known as “Lebo M”, who created and performed the iconic opening chant in ‘Circle of Life’. Morake alleges that Jonasi damaged his reputation by jokingly mistranslating the Zulu lyrics as “Look, there’s a lion. Oh my God” during a podcast appearance.
According to court filings, the composer argues the chant is a royal proclamation meaning “All hail the king”, and claims the viral joke diminished its cultural significance and impacted business relationships.
Learnmore Jonasi has pushed back, insisting the comment was comedic and not intended as fact. The situation intensified when he was reportedly served legal papers mid-performance, a moment that initially left audiences thinking it was part of his act.
Now, the case is fuelling wider debate around comedy, culture and interpretation.
