Overview
- South African composer Lebohang “Lebo M” Morake filed a federal complaint in California accusing Learnmore Jonasi of presenting a mistranslation of The Lion King’s opening chant as fact after viral podcast and stand-up remarks.
- Jonasi posted an Instagram video that shows him being served with the lawsuit while performing on stage during his U.S. tour.
- The comedian launched a GoFundMe for legal fees, seeking $20,000 and reporting more than $10,000 raised, and he began selling themed merchandise to fund his defense.
- The complaint cites misleading representation under the Lanham Act, defamation, trade libel, and tortious interference, and it seeks over $20 million in actual damages plus $7 million in punitive damages.
- Disney translates “Nants’ingonyama bagithi Baba” as “All hail the king, we all bow in the presence of the king,” and the filing says the Zulu word for “lion” functions as a royal metaphor, a contrast that has fueled criticism over earlier simplified translations that drew no legal action.