Key Takeaways
- A federal judge dismissed a $27 million lawsuit filed by South African composer Lebo M against comedian Learnmore Jonasi.
- The case was deemed frivolous, and the judge allowed Jonasi to seek repayment of legal fees from Morake.
- Morake criticized sensationalist headlines while Jonasi's lawyer maintained the lawsuit aimed to infringe on free speech rights.
In a surprising turn of events, South African composer Lebo M has dropped his $27 million lawsuit against comedian Learnmore Jonasi over a viral joke about The Lion King’s iconic Zulu chant. However, the dismissal of the case does not mark an end to legal proceedings as Jonasi's attorney Bryan Sullivan announced they would seek repayment for the hefty legal fees incurred.
The lawsuit, filed in March and centered around the Zulu chant from 'Circle of Life,' was dismissed by a federal judge on July 10. The judge noted that the case was a ‘sham’ and violated the First Amendment, allowing Jonasi to pursue penalties against Morake for filing what he deemed a frivolous lawsuit.
In his statement to Billboard, Sullivan emphasized, 'From the outset, we maintained that the lawsuit was frivolous and constituted an attempt to infringe upon our client’s First Amendment rights.' He added, 'As a result of this baseless litigation, the plaintiff walks away with nothing.'
Lebo M, on the other hand, took to Instagram to criticize sensationalist headlines surrounding the dismissal. In his statement, he wrote, 'Throughout this process, Lebo M consistently demonstrated a willingness to pursue dialogue over division,' and added that the settlement reflected his philosophy of avoiding prolonged litigation.
The viral joke in question was featured on the popular podcast One54 Africa in February. The comedian made light of the Zulu chant by joking it meant ‘Look, there’s a lion. Oh my god.’ This clip went viral, garnering 116K likes on Instagram and 337K views on YouTube.
The legal battle between Morake and Jonasi centered around the translation of the Zulu chant, with Morake claiming that Jonasi's statement was a 'fabricated, trivializing distortion, meant as a sick joke.'
Despite the dismissal of the lawsuit, the case highlights ongoing tensions in the entertainment industry regarding free speech and artistic expression. Legal experts suggest that such frivolous lawsuits can have significant financial implications for comedians and other public figures.
The outcome of this legal battle could set precedents for future cases involving similar issues, particularly in the realm of comedy and satire. As both parties prepare for further legal action, the entertainment community watches closely to see how these matters will play out.
'From the outset, we maintained that the lawsuit was frivolous and constituted an attempt to infringe upon our client’s First Amendment rights.'
Bryan Sullivan, Attorney for Learnmore Jonasi
'Throughout this process, Lebo M consistently demonstrated a willingness to pursue dialogue over division,' adding that the settlement reflects his philosophy of avoiding prolonged litigation.
Lebo M, South African composer
