South African composer Lebo M has voluntarily withdrawn his $27 million defamation lawsuit against comedian Learnmore Jonasi over a viral joke about the “Circle of Life” chant, but the comic is now seeking repayment of his legal bills under California’s anti-SLAPP statute. The dismissal, ordered by a federal judge on July 10, ends less than four months of litigation but leaves the door open for Jonasi to recover costs for what his attorneys labeled “baseless litigation” that infringed on First Amendment rights.
First Amendment Shield Protects Comedy Joke
The dispute originated from Jonasi’s February appearance on the One54 Africa podcast, where he jokingly claimed the Zulu chant “Nants’ingonyama bagithi Baba” translates to “Look, there’s a lion. Oh my god.” The clip went viral, garnering 337,000 YouTube views and 116,000 Instagram likes, prompting Morake to sue for defamation and trademark violations. Morake’s legal team described the joke as a “fabricated, trivializing distortion” intended for “unlawful self-profit,” yet Jonasi’s attorneys successfully argued the case violated core free speech protections by attempting to punish a comedian for engaging in creative expression.
U.S. District Judge Josephine Staton dismissed the case after noting both parties “thoroughly conversed about the issue” and mutually agreed to end it voluntarily. While the dismissal was made “without prejudice,” allowing Morake to potentially refile later, the judge explicitly confirmed that Jonasi retains the right to seek attorney fee repayment under California law. This statute is designed to deter lawsuits that chill protected speech by empowering victorious defendants to recover legal costs from plaintiffs who file meritless claims.
Composer Claims Mutual Settlement, Comic Calls It Frivolous
Following the dismissal, Morake issued an Instagram statement criticizing “sensationalist headlines” and asserting the two sides “mutually agreed to settle the matter” rather than suffering a court loss. His statement emphasized a desire to avoid “prolonged litigation” and pursue dialogue over division. However, Jonasi’s attorney Bryan Sullivan rejected this framing, stating the lawsuit was “frivolous” and an attempt to infringe on his client’s constitutional rights. Sullivan confirmed on July 13 that Jonasi would vigorously pursue fee recovery to protect against meritless claims designed to suppress free speech.
Morake’s attorneys have not yet commented on why the case was dropped or addressed the looming demand for legal fees. The case faced significant legal hurdles from the start, as U.S. courts broadly shield comedy from defamation liability, and trademark arguments against jokes are notoriously difficult to win. This outcome reinforces the high barrier for rights holders attempting to use litigation to control the interpretation of iconic musical elements in comedic contexts.
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