A federal judge in Los Angeles dismissed a $27 million defamation lawsuit brought by South African artist Lebo M against comedian Learnmore Jonasi. The case, filed in March, accused Jonasi of providing an inaccurate translation of Zulu chant used in Disney’s *The Lion King*.
The judge’s order, effective immediately, rules that Morake’s claims violated Jonasi’s First Amendment rights. Jonasi’s legal team argues the lawsuit was strategically filed to suppress free speech, citing California’s anti-SLAPP statute to seek reimbursement for legal costs.
The dispute centers on Jonasi’s commentary on the *One54 Africa* podcast, where he humorously reinterpreted Lebo M’s iconic “Circle of Life” chant as “Look, there’s a lion. Oh, my God.” Morake claims this misrepresentation damaged his professional reputation and threatened his collaboration with Disney on *Mufasa: The Lion King*.
Jonasi’s defense maintains the joke was part of a comedic context, not a factual claim. A viral TikTok video showing him receiving the lawsuit paperwork during a performance further emphasized the absurdity of the case.
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