Jonasi, a Zimbabwean stand-up comic, is being sued for $27 million by Lebohang Morake, the Grammy-winning composer behind the iconic opening chant of “Circle of Life.”
In response, Jonasi has begun raising money for his legal fees, using humor once again. He recently posted a photo on Instagram wearing a black T-shirt featuring a cartoon design of himself lifting a lion, paired with the words “It's a lion.”
He added a caption, "You can help me pay these crazy legal fees, I don’t have 27M ??? ".
View this post on InstagramThe remark got laughs from the hosts, who said they had always believed the chant sounded more “beautiful and majestic.”
However, Disney’s official translation of the lyric is: “All hail the king, we all bow in the presence of the king.”
The lawsuit accuses Jonasi of presenting his translation “as authoritative fact, not comedy,” arguing that it should not be protected as a joke. It also claims his comments harmed Morake’s business relationships and royalty income, seeking over $20 million in damages plus $7 million in punitive damages.
In a dramatic moment that quickly went viral, the comedian was served legal papers while performing live on stage. Mid-set, he reacted in real time, telling the audience: "Oh [explicit] I just got served. Oh [explicit]. Oh my God."
He continued: "This is for... I did a joke about The Lion King. I'm paying for that [explicit] now. [Explicit] The Lion King."
View this post on InstagramHe also shared his frustration, saying: "I can't believe I'm getting sued for telling a joke. What kind of stupid world do we live in? This world is stupid."
Before the lawsuit, Jonasi and Morake reportedly tried to resolve the issue privately. According to Jonasi, Morake accused him of “disrespecting his work,” while the comedian said he responded by calling himself “a big fan” of the song and even offered to collaborate on an educational video.
But talks broke down. Jonasi claimed the situation worsened after Morake insulted him, saying: "I’m not going to talk to this person. He called me an idiot."
Still, he stood firm on the lawsuit, adding: "He’s insulting my work that has been inspirational to people around the world for over 50 years. Then insulting my culture."
Related: 'Lion King' Lyrics Translation Goes Viral: Watch the Hilarious 'Millennial Crash Out' Over the Intro's True Meaning
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