‘Lion King’ singer sues comedian for $20M over ‘Circle of Life’ song misrepresentation
The paws are out with the words “Lion King”!
A Grammy-winning South American singer who sang the famous opening song “Circle of Life” at the beginning of the Disney film is suing the comedian for $20 million for “intentionally misrepresenting” the meaning of the song.
Singer Lebohang Morake says Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi damaged his reputation when he said the song, “Nants’ingonyama bagithi Baba” translates as, “Look, there is a lion.”
“[Jonasi] presented this as an authorized fact, not a joke,” according to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles on March 16. “[He] they mock the importance of culture through exaggerated imitation.”
Disney’s official version of this phrase sung in the South African language of Zulu is, “Thank you, Lord, we all bow before the king.”
The word “lion,” however, can be translated as “king” in a language depending on the context.
When Jonasi appeared on the podcast, the contestants laughed after making a “translation” – saying they thought it meant something “good and awesome.”
“You’re kidding. That’s not what it means,” said one of the center’s administrators – when Jonasi was accused of “double-crossing,” emphasizing, “That’s exactly what was said,” according to the lawsuit.
“The defendant’s lying in describing the song Nants’ingonyama bagithi Baba” in commercial media creates a misleading description of [Morake’s] an important commercial activity, reduces its value and market position,” the lawsuit said.
He allegedly made a similar joke about the song during a March 12 performance in Los Angeles and was “highly respected,” according to the lawsuit.
Morake says the statements, which have gone viral, hurt his business relationship with Disney and his royalties, causing more than $20 million in damages. The lawsuit also seeks $7 million in punitive damages.
The tension between the singer and the comedian has also spread on social media these days.
Morake’s lawyer, Michael Younge, admitted in court that “lion” could literally translate to “lion” – but said it was used as a royal metaphor in the song, which was performed by Elton John in the 1994 film. “The Lion King” saw an international stage release and a film remake in 2019.
Jonasi said he is a “big fan” of Morake’s work and loves the song. When he heard that Morake was upset, the comedian said, he wanted to make a video with Morake explaining the deep meaning of the song.
“Jokes always have a way of starting a conversation,” Jonasi said in a video he posted on Instagram, which has received more than 100,000 likes. “This is your chance to really teach people, because now people are listening.”
But Jonasi said he changed his mind about working with Morake when he said the composer called him a “self-hater” as they texted each other following the February 25 podcast. He said Morake’s reaction ignored his remaining work, which focuses on a different critique of American interpretations of Africanism.
A spokesman for Jonas did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.
Via Post wires.
