By CloutBase | Harare July 11, 2026

Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi is breathing a sigh of relief after a United States federal judge dismissed the $27 million lawsuit that had been filed against him over his viral joke about The Lion King’s famous Zulu chant.

Taking to Facebook after the ruling, the comedian could hardly contain his excitement.

“LOOK!!! The case has been dismissed! OMG!!!😅

I’m finally free, ladies and gentlemen. You have no idea how stressful this whole experience has been. I’m incredibly grateful to the judge for dismissing this frivolous case.

I’ve been holding back from talking about all the drama while the case was ongoing… but now? Game on. 😏”

The legal battle stemmed from a joke Jonasi made earlier this year during a podcast appearance, where he humorously translated the opening Zulu chant from Disney’s The Lion King as, “Look, there’s a lion. Oh my God.”

The joke prompted South African composer and The Lion King co-creator Lebo M to file a multi-million-dollar lawsuit, arguing that the remarks misrepresented the cultural significance of the chant.

According to Rolling Stone, lawyers representing both parties agreed to dismiss the case before a federal judge in Los Angeles formally approved the dismissal, bringing the months-long legal battle to an end. The publication also reported that Jonasi may still pursue legal costs under California law.

The ruling marks a major victory for the Zimbabwean comedian, whose supporters had rallied behind him throughout the case, with many arguing that the comments were clearly intended as comedy and satire rather than factual translation.

Following Jonasi’s Facebook announcement, fans flooded the comments section with congratulatory messages, celebrating what many described as a win for comedy and free expression.

With the legal cloud now lifted, the comedian has hinted that he is finally ready to speak openly about the experience, telling followers that after months of remaining silent, “Game on.”