MEGA CLAIM

Lion King composer ‘doesn’t remember’ talking about Nelson Mandela with Meghan Markle after she compared herself to him

A SOUTH African composer who met Meghan Markle at a Lion King premiere says he doesn't remember talking about Nelson Mandela with the duchess.

The producer is the second South African to remove himself from Meghan's claims that someone from the country compared her royal wedding to the freedom fighter's release.

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The Lion King composer says he ‘does not remember’ discussing Nelson Mandela with Meghan Markle during their brief meeting at the film's premiereCredit: Getty
The Duchess of Sussex told an anecdote about a South African at the launch comparing her royal wedding to Nelson Mandela's release from prisonCredit: Rex Features

The Duchess of Sussex slipped the anecdote into a recent interview with , recalling how a South African actor had made the comparison at The Lion King's 2019 premiere in London.

But Dr John Kani, who voiced Rafiki in Disney's remake of The Lion King, said the duchess must be "mis-remembering" what happened.

The Disney star said he was "the only South African in the cast" and did not even attend the West End premiere - prompting questions about Meghan's "baffling" claim.

Now the film's composer Lebohang Morake, known professionally as "Lebo M", has also denied that he was the one who made the disputed remark.

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In the magazine interview, Meghan described the moment a South African cast member compared her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry with the anti-apartheid leader's walk to freedom.

She said: “He said, ‘I just need you to know: When you married into this family, we rejoiced in the streets the same we did when Mandela was freed from prison'.”

The Duchess didn't name Lebo M or Dr John Kani in her anecdote but the two South Africans have both ruled themselves out as the unknown actor - sparking confusion over who said the comment.

Lebo said he chatted to the Sussexes for "less than a minute" at the London launch and didn't remember discussing the historic South African leader.

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Speaking on Wednesday, the composer told : "Indeed I was at The Lion King 2019 premier and met the Royals.

"I cannot comment on the matter as it was three years ago and I don’t remember details of that conversation which was less than a minute, except the Royals were going to South Africa or Botswana. 

"I’m the only South African directly associated with both The Lion King films and the Broadway productions."

The 58-year-old Grammy winner added: "As a South African, I’m not sure if this is important to most of us facing serious domestic issues.

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"I’d like to not be dragged into this issue from three years ago either way."

Footage of the composer's brief conversation with the royal couple sheds some light on the 2019 exchange.

Lebo M can be heard chatting to Meghan and Harry about their upcoming trip to South Africa and Malawi, as he stands next to the singer Pharrell Williams.

The music producer says in the clip: "It’s an honour to meet you. Everyone in South Africa’s heard of Meghan Markle."

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After Harry shares some words about their nearing Africa trip, Lebo M then adds, "Oh, fantastic. Better be seeing you then", before the couple move on.

Mandela was the hero of the apartheid struggle who almost single-handedly laid the foundations of a free South Africa.

He spent 26 years in jail and then became the nation's first black president, won the Noble Peace Prize and is one of the most revered figures of the 20th century.

'MIS-REMEMBERING'

Lebo M's confusion at Meghan's comment follows actor Dr John Kani calling the comparison "baffling" yesterday.

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