Lebo M Drops Lawsuit Against Comedian Over Viral Joke

In a surprising turn of events, South African musician Lebohang Morake, known as Lebo M, has decided to drop his lawsuit against comedian Learnmore Jonasi. Earlier this year, Morake sued Jonasi for a lighthearted viral joke regarding the Zulu chant featured in Elton John’s iconic song, “Circle Of Life” from The Lion King.

The case was dismissed on July 10, but the fallout continues as Jonasi is now seeking reimbursement for his legal fees. Jonasi’s attorney, Bryan Sullivan, stated that the lawsuit was frivolous and infringed upon Jonasi’s First Amendment rights.

Jonasi’s viral video, which humorously translated the chant to mean “Look, there’s a lion. Oh my god,” garnered over four million likes on Instagram. Morake initially sought $27 million in damages, claiming the joke distorted his artistic work.

While Morake has agreed to dismiss the case, he did so “without prejudice,” leaving the door open for potential future action. In a statement, he emphasized that reports of his legal defeat were inaccurate, suggesting a mutual settlement.

Source: www.stereogum.com

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