Cirque du Soleil joins boycott of North Carolina over transgender bathroom law

Cirque du Soleil has joined Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Bryan Adams and others in boycotting North Carolina over the state’s controversial “bathroom” law that would affect transgender people.

The Montreal company famous for its colorful, acrobatic extravaganzas said Friday that it is canceling upcoming performances of “Ovo” in Greensboro and Charlotte, as well as “Toruk” -- its new “Avatar”-themed spectacular -- in Raleigh.

“Cirque du Soleil believes in equality for all,” the company said in a release. “It is a principle that guides us with both our employees and our customers. We behave as change agents to reach our ultimate goal of making a better world with our actions and our productions.”

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“Ovo” was scheduled to run in Greensboro from April 20-24, and in Charlotte from July 6-10. “Toruk” was set to run in Raleigh from June 22-26.

The North Carolina law, which the state legislature recently passed, requires transgender people to use public bathrooms in government and school facilities that match the gender on their birth certificates.

Cirque said online and phone ticket purchases for the canceled performances will be automatically reimbursed, while individuals who bought tickets in-person must return to the point of purchase for refunds.

“We sincerely hope that the customers that have purchased tickets for our performances in North Carolina will understand our motivation and we look forward to performing in North Carolina when this issue is addressed,” Cirque said.

The controversial law has drawn widespread condemnation from gay and transgender advocates as well as a number of prominent entertainment personalities and businesses.

Springsteen and the E Street Band canceled a performance at the Greensboro Coliseum earlier this month; Starr nixed an upcoming concert at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary.

But some public figures have voiced support for the spirit of the law, including Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz, who said at a recent MSNBC town hall in Buffalo, N.Y., that North Carolina “has the power to pass” its own laws.

Cirque’s announcement comes a day before its latest show, “Paramour,” begins preview performances in New York. The show is the company’s first Broadway production.

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