Cirque du Soleil cancels North Carolina shows in protest of state law

This undated image released by The Publicity Office shows a scene from the Cirque du Soleil production, “TORUK – The First Flight.” The Canadian-based circus company Cirque du Soleil is canceling upcoming stops in North Carolina by two of its touring shows to protest a state law that limits anti-discrimination protections for the LGBT community. The company said Friday that it will scrap plans for “Ovo” to play Greensboro from April 17-20 and Charlotte from July 6-10, and “Toruk _ The First Flight,” which was scheduled to play Raleigh from June 22-26. (Errisson Lawrence/The Publicity Office via AP) This undated image released by The Publicity Office shows a scene from the Cirque du Soleil production, “TORUK – The First Flight.” The Canadian-based circus company Cirque du Soleil is canceling upcoming stops in North Carolina by two of its touring shows to protest a state law that limits anti-discrimination protections for the LGBT community. The company said Friday that it will scrap plans for “Ovo” to play Greensboro from April 17-20 and Charlotte from July 6-10, and “Toruk _ The First Flight,” which was scheduled to play Raleigh from June 22-26. (Errisson Lawrence/The Publicity Office via AP)

By Associated Press April 15, 2016 1 min read

The Canadian-based circus company Cirque du Soleil, which is coming to Chattanooga for the first time in July, is canceling three upcoming stops in North Carolina to protest a state law that limits anti-discrimination protections for the LGBT community.

The company is bringing its “Ovo” show to Chattanooga and was going to bring it to Charlotte the same month, but now has changed its mind. In a statement, the company said it “strongly believes in diversity and equality for every individual and is opposed to discrimination in any form.”

The company also was planning to bring “Ovo” to Greensboro, N.C., in April and had scheduled “Toruk – The First Flight” in Raleigh in June.

Other artists who have recently canceled North Carolina appearances include Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr and Ani DiFranco. Cyndi Lauper and Louis C.K. have pledged to donate profits from their shows to Equality North Carolina.