Lebo M Hit With R640k Legal Bill After Losing Lawsuit Against Zimbabwean Comedian Learnmore Jonasi
- A US federal court ruled against Lebo M after he sued Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi over a joke about the Lion King opening chant
- The court found attorney fees reasonable after Jonasi's legal team spent over 60 hours fighting the case on anti-SLAPP grounds
- The ruling sparked a wave of lion-themed puns online as social media users reacted to the outcome
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Source: UGC
Lebo M's lawsuit against a Zimbabwean comedian has backfired spectacularly, with a US federal court ordering him to pay nearly $40,000 in attorneys' fees after a judge ruled in the comedian's favour. The case, which centred on a joke about the famous opening chant from The Lion King, has since become a lightning rod for mockery online.
The United States District Court for the Central District of California handed down the ruling on 28 August 2026 in the case Lebohang Morake v. Learnmore Mwanyenyeka (Case No. 2:26-cv-02795-JLS-AS). The court granted the defendant's motion and awarded $39,560 in attorneys' fees, with Learnmore Jonasi's legal team given five days to file a proposed judgment.
Why Lebo M sued Learnmore Jonasi
Jonasi had made a comedic claim that the iconic Zulu chant at the start of The Lion King — which Lebo M famously performed — translates to "Look, there's a lion. Oh my god." The Lion King composer sued over the joke, which he apparently felt misrepresented his work. The court, however, sided firmly with the comedian.
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Court documents show that attorney Mr Hansen billed 33 hours on anti-SLAPP issues at $475 per hour, while Mr Sullivan logged 28.1 hours at $850 per hour. The court found the combined lodestar of $39,560 to be reasonable, though it denied a requested threefold fee enhancement. Notably, Jonasi, who started a fundraiser to cover legal fees, was actually billed only $5,350 by his lawyers, who cited the case's First Amendment importance as justification for reduced rates.
Source: Getty Images
Peeps react with lion puns
The ruling, flagged publicly by US lawyer Adam Steinbaugh on X on 29 August 2026, drew instant reactions — most of them dripping with big-cat wordplay.
@jcburley wrote:
"Maybe, the next time a lyricist considers suing over a parody (especially of lion-related lyrics), this result will give him paws."
@thedannistar took a more measured view:
"I can see the lyricist being upset at least. For the rest of recorded time, some people will believe it and pass it on as a fact. But that's part of the circle of life."
@LazBaya couldn't resist:
"I am sure there will be another skit. Look, there's $40,000. Oh my God!"
@RAHarrisonPA kept it short:
"Good. That was a ridiculous lawsuit."
@joe_lipscomb_ added:
"I wonder if the artist's residuals will cover that amount, or will the payment leave a Scar."
The $39,560 figure is equivalent to roughly R640,000, a steep price for a lawsuit that, by the court's own reasoning, should never have been filed.
Comedian reacts to Lebo M’s claim after US court dismisses lawsuit
Meanwhile, Briefly News previously reported that Learnmore Jonasi hit back at Lebo M's statement, accusing the Grammy-winning composer of lying about how their $27 million defamation lawsuit ended.
Lebo M also previously alleged that Zimbabweans were making threats to his life amid the legal battle.
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Source: Briefly News
