Comic Escapes $27 Million Lawsuit Over ‘Lion King’ Chant Joke
Cbnc
A Los Angeles judge dismissed a $27 million defamation suit against comedian Learnmore Jonasi, citing free‑speech protections.Summary
A federal judge in Los Angeles dismissed a $27 million defamation lawsuit filed by South African singer and composer Lebohang Morake—known professionally as Lebo M—against comedian Learnmore Jonasi. Morake’s claim centered on a Zulu chant that opens Disney’s “Circle of Life” in The Lion King, which Jonasi had referenced in a joke. The judge ruled the suit was frivolous and protected Jonasi’s First Amendment rights, allowing him to seek attorneys’ fees under California’s anti‑SLAPP statute.
(Source：Cbnc)