**DISNEY OFFERED HER 13-YEAR-OLD SON $2 MILLION. SHE SAID NO! 😳🦁💰** What kind of mother t… — @dreasmith08

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@dreasmith08's TikTok video "**DISNEY OFFERED HER 13-YEAR-OLD SON $2 MILLION. SHE SAID NO! 😳🦁💰** What kind of mother turns down $2 MILLION for her teenage son? One who understands the difference between getting paid today and building wealth for tomorrow. In the early 1990s, a young boy from Chicago was offered an opportunity most aspiring entertainers could only dream of. His name was **Jason Weaver**, and Disney wanted him to become the singing voice of young Simba in *The Lion King*. Jason was already making a name for himself in Hollywood. He had portrayed a young Michael Jackson in the television miniseries *The Jacksons: An American Dream*. But this opportunity was different. According to Jason, Disney offered him approximately **$2 MILLION** to record songs for its upcoming animated film. Imagine being a mother and hearing that someone wants to pay your 13-year-old child TWO MILLION DOLLARS! Most parents would have signed the contract before the ink dried. But Jason's mother, Marilyn "Kitty" Haywood, had other plans. And what she did next would change her son's financial future. **SHE TURNED DOWN THE $2 MILLION!** Now, before you question her judgment, understand something important. Kitty wasn't just any mother. She was an experienced professional singer who had worked with legendary artists, including Aretha Franklin. She understood something many people outside the entertainment industry didn't. **OWNERSHIP AND ROYALTIES CAN BE WORTH MORE THAN A BIG PAYCHECK.** Kitty knew Disney's animated movies had a history of being rereleased and enjoyed by generations of children. She had seen the success of *Beauty and the Beast* and *Aladdin*. And she started asking herself some important questions. What happens when Jason turns 30? What about 40? What if children are still singing these songs when he's 50? Why should he only get paid once for music that could generate revenue for decades? So Kitty went back to the negotiating table. Instead of accepting the reported $2 million buyout, she negotiated a deal that reportedly included approximately **$100,000 upfront PLUS ongoing royalties**. Think about that. She exchanged an enormous guaranteed payday for a smaller payment and a continuing share of certain earnings. It was a gamble. Nobody knew whether *The Lion King* would become a blockbuster. But Kitty believed in her son's talent and the potential of Disney's music. Jason went into the recording studio and performed two unforgettable songs: 🎵 "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" 🎵 "Hakuna Matata" When *The Lion King* premiered in 1994, it became a worldwide sensation. Families packed movie theaters. Children memorized the songs. The soundtrack sold millions of copies. And the movie didn't disappear after its theatrical release. It continued reaching new audiences through home video, rereleases, and eventually digital platforms. Meanwhile, Jason was growing up. He continued acting, appearing in productions including *Smart Guy* and *ATL*. But something remarkable was happening behind the scenes. **THE ROYALTY CHECKS KEPT COMING!** In a 2019 interview, Jason revealed that the money he had earned through the royalty arrangement had already surpassed the original $2 million offer. And he was still receiving payments! More than 25 years after recording those songs as a child, his mother's decision was continuing to pay off. Now here's what makes this story even more powerful. Jason didn't provide Simba's regular speaking voice. That role went to Jonathan Taylor Thomas. Jason provided the young lion's singing voice. Just TWO songs helped create a financial opportunity that lasted for decades. His mother didn't simply negotiate a contract. **SHE NEGOTIATED WITH HER SON'S FUTURE IN MIND.** Today, Jason has spoken publicly about how grateful he is that his mother recognized the long-term value of his work. And sometimes the smartest person in the room isn't the executive offering millions. **It's the mother who knows her child's worth. ❤️** And history proved her right. #JasonWeaver #TheLionKing" has 154,083 views, 9,948 likes, 74 comments, 96 shares in the public metrics captured by this index. That is an engagement rate of 6.57% (likes, comments and shares over views). It was posted over two weeks ago and runs 0 seconds. It has been saved 415 times.

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How many views does this TikTok video have?

The capture indexed here reports 154,083 views, 9,948 likes and 74 comments.

Who posted this TikTok video?

It was posted by @dreasmith08, who is linked from this page.

What is this TikTok video's engagement rate?

Across the captured metrics the engagement rate is 6.57% (likes + comments + shares over views).

When was this TikTok video posted?

It was posted on 2026-10-11, over two weeks ago.