Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi, who went viral for discussing the opening song of “The Lion King” on a podcast, was sued for $27 million by one of the film’s composers, Lebohang Morake.
“I can’t believe I’m getting sued for telling a joke,” Jonasi confirmed in an Instagram video. “What kind of stupid world do we live in?”
The stand-up comic was served the lawsuit while performing a set at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles, according to a video he shared on his social media on March 24.
“I now have a gluten allergy, anxiety, I got served, I’m now American!” Jonasi exclaimed after receiving the yellow envelope with legal documents on stage.
Jonasi has started selling shirts featuring his joke and has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for legal expenses.
As of March 28, he had raised $20,118, exceeding his $20,000 goal, to get a lawyer.
“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,” Jonasi wrote on his GoFundMe page.
“The total cost for my defense is beyond my means, and I need your help.”
The comedian appeared in a now-viral episode of the “One54 Africa” podcast on Feb. 25, where he was asked to translate the opening lyrics of the iconic “Circle of Life” track.
The song started with the lyrics “Nants’ ingonyama bagithi Baba, Sithi huu ngonyama” which are sung in Zulu, a language of Southern Africa, according to court documents.
Jonasi told the podcast that the English transcription of the lyrics meant “Look, there’s a lion! Oh my God.”
“You’re joking?” podcast co-host Akbar Gbajabiamila asked. “That is not what that means. That is not what that means.”
“That’s exactly what it means,” Jonasi replied.
The lawsuit, filed by Morake in a California court on March 16, claimed the translated lyrics actually meant “All hail the king, we all bow in the presence of the king.”
The complaint accused the comedian of presenting it as fact rather than comedy, but noted that one word could be considered a “lion” depending on its translation.
By Jacki Thrapp
