Comic Seeks Payback After Composer Lebo M Ends $27 Million Lawsuit Over ‘Circle of Life’ Joke

A lawsuit tied to a viral joke referencing a Zulu chant associated with Disney’s The Lion King has been dropped by composer Lebo M, but the comedian targeted by the claim says it is not finished. Billboard reported that Lebo M ended his case after alleging that the joke led to legal and financial harm, with the composer originally seeking $27 million.

Lebo M’s court action focused on a specific “Circle of Life” reference that circulated widely online, according to the report. The chant is strongly identified with the franchise, and the comedian’s joke allegedly used or imitated the phrasing in a way that the composer argued crossed legal lines.

While the case has been ended by Lebo M, the target of the suit is portrayed as seeking “payback,” meaning the comedian is attempting to keep some form of dispute alive rather than letting the matter close entirely. The reporting frames the composer’s decision as an end to his lawsuit, not as a resolution that prevents the targeted comedian from pursuing further steps.

Billboard characterized the litigation as “baseless,” describing the comedian’s view of the claim and its premise. The report indicates that Lebo M’s departure from the case creates a procedural shift, since the target of the lawsuit will now look to how courts handle any remaining requests, including whether related motions, counterclaims, or costs can be pursued depending on where the case stands.

The composer’s original legal demand of $27 million underscores the stakes involved for entertainment creators, especially when content from major studio brands is repurposed in memes, stand-up routines, or other viral formats. Even when a party withdraws a suit, it can leave questions in its wake about how intellectual property and rights claims intersect with comedy and online commentary.

As of this report, the precise next steps for the comedian are not detailed, and the record presented here does not specify the court, docket status, or whether any counteractions have been filed. What is clear is that the dispute has changed shape: Lebo M has stopped pursuing his $27 million case, while the targeted comic is seeking a further accounting or remedy connected to the litigation’s conduct and allegations.