Entertainment
Judge orders 'Lion King' composer to pay comedian $40,000 in legal fees after dropped lawsuit
A federal judge ruled under California's anti-SLAPP statute after the composer withdrew a $27 million defamation suit over a podcast joke.
The short version
- A judge ordered South African musician Lebo M to pay $39,560 in legal fees to comedian Learnmore Jonasi after dropping a $27 million lawsuit against him.
- The lawsuit stemmed from a podcast appearance where Jonasi joked about the English translation of the opening chant to 'Circle of Life' from The Lion King.
- Judge Josephine Staton granted the fee award under California's anti-SLAPP law, which compensates defendants targeted by lawsuits that threaten free speech.
Key facts
- Lebo M filed a $27 million lawsuit in March accusing Learnmore Jonasi of defamation and other claims over a joke regarding the translation of the opening chant to 'Circle of Life'.[Billboard]
- Jonasi's legal team filed an anti-SLAPP motion arguing the lawsuit targeted protected First Amendment speech, leading Lebo M to drop the suit.[Billboard]
- Judge Josephine Staton awarded Jonasi $39,560 in attorneys' fees and costs, covering more than 50 hours of work by his legal team.[Billboard]