Lebohang Morake, the Grammy-winning lyricist who wrote the iconic opening chant for The Lion King, has been ordered to pay nearly $40,000 in legal fees after losing a defamation lawsuit against South African comedian Jonasi. The legal battle stemmed from a 2026 podcast episode where Jonasi joked that the song’s lyrics translated to, “Look, there is a lion! Oh my god.”
A federal judge dismissed the case via an Anti-SLAPP motion, effectively ruling that the lawsuit was a meritless attempt to silence free speech. Jonasi’s legal team hailed the decision as a significant win, while the court noted the burden of costs falls to Morake following his failed attempt to penalize the comedian for the lighthearted skit.