The recent viral joke by comedian Learnmore Jonasi, concerning the well-known Zulu chant from Disney’s beloved film The Lion King, has sparked a significant legal battle, culminating in a $27 million defamation lawsuit and prompting Jonasi to launch a legal defense fundraiser.
Jonasi, a stand-up comic from Zimbabwe, faced legal action following comments made during an appearance on the One54 Africa podcast. He humorously suggested that the chant “Nants’ingonyama bagithi Baba” carries a less noble meaning than widely believed, declaring, “Look, there’s a lion. Oh my God,” which left the podcast hosts astonished.
Lebohang Morake, the South African artist who is credited with the chant and who performs professionally as Lebo M, initiated the lawsuit in federal court in Los Angeles. Morake asserts that the true meaning of the chant is “All hail the king, we all bow in the presence of the king.” He accuses Jonasi of disseminating a false interpretation that demonstrates “reckless disregard” for both the truth and Morake’s reputation.
In a notable event, Jonasi took to TikTok to share a video of the moment he was served the lawsuit during a performance at The Laugh Factory. In response to the legal challenge, he established a GoFundMe campaign aimed at raising funds for his defense.
In a message to supporters on the GoFundMe platform, Jonasi expressed the gravity of the situation: “What started as a bit of humor has escalated into a devastating legal battle. I am a passionate creator who never intended harm, but I now face overwhelming legal fees just to defend my right to speak and tell jokes.”
As of Thursday, the fundraiser had garnered $13,890 in contributions. In a follow-up message, Jonasi, whose legal last name is Mwanyenyeka, conveyed his gratitude, stating, “I am truly grateful for all your support and kindness. Because of you, I now have a fighting chance with this lawsuit.”
The 19-page lawsuit, reviewed by Rolling Stone, claims that Jonasi made his allegedly defamatory comments in an “authoritative” manner during a conversational podcast rather than in the lighthearted context of a stand-up comedy set. The suit argues, “Defendant presented it as factual knowledge with misguided authenticity to increase exposure and mockery of Lebo M’s creative masterpiece.”
Morake described Jonasi’s remarks as “theft by mockery,” asserting that Jonasi is profiting from his viral joke at Morake’s expense. He further contended, “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. Lebo M has continued to work with Disney over the last two years on Mufasa and has legitimate concerns whether Disney will call on his services again, due to Learnmore’s mischaracterization.”
In addition to his GoFundMe initiative, Jonasi is also promoting merchandise featuring a T-shirt with the phrase, “Look it’s a Lawsuit. Oh my God,” accompanied by a cartoon depiction of himself holding legal documents in a pose reminiscent of Mufasa presenting his cub, Simba. On Instagram, he encouraged his followers, stating, “Get your T-shirt now, You can really help me pay these legal fees.”
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