A joke about the legendary film The Lion King could cost one person a staggering $27 million. A Zimbabwean comedian made a joke about the lyrics of the “Circle of Life” song from the film, and the original composer did not take it well.
Comedian Learnmore Jonasi has just been hit with a massive lawsuit. The Zimbabwean performer is accused of deliberately misrepresenting the meaning of the iconic chant at the beginning of “The Circle of Life,” the first song heard in The Lion King.
The composer behind the famous vocals, Lebohang Morake, is not pleased with what the comedian said.
Jonasi made the joke during a podcast in February and repeated it several times during his stand‑up shows.
For those who don’t remember exactly when or how the chant appears, here’s a quick refresher: The Lion King opens with a beautiful sunrise, accompanied by a powerful African vocal.
Lion King composer sues comedian for $27m after ‘Circle of Life’ lyrics joke Many people believe the lyrics carry a deeper spiritual meaning, but Jonasi had a different interpretation. He joked that the words simply mean: “Look, there’s a lion. Oh my God.”
The comedian’s clip — and his take on the iconic intro — went viral. Many fans of The Lion King said the lyrics were nothing like what they expected, while others joked that it “ruined their childhood.”
The chant was originally written and performed by South African composer Lebohang Morake, also known as Lebo M. He was not amused by the joke, and Jonasi is now facing a major lawsuit.
Morake says the joke is not only incorrect but also disrespectful. He explained that the words are part of traditional praise poetry and should be interpreted as “All hail the king, we bow before the king.”
He claims the comedian mocked the words, turning them into something silly and distorting their meaning. As a result, he has filed a lawsuit seeking about $27 million in damages.
Accused of “misleading the world” According to Newsweek, Morake called the comedian an “idiot” in a video earlier this month and accused him of “misleading the world.” He also claimed Jonasi was “intentionally disrespectful and dismissive.”
In the legal complaint, Morake said the joke damaged his reputation and could affect his work with Disney. Since the comedian repeated the joke in multiple shows, many people might believe it to be true.
The case was filed in the United States. When it will be resolved remains to be seen.
What do you think of this? Share your thoughts in the Facebook comment box.
