Cirque du Soleil's Saudi Arabia Show 'Difficult' for Founder Guy Laliberte - CircusTalk

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Cirque du Soleil’s Saudi Arabia Show ‘Difficult’ for Founder Guy Laliberte

MONTREAL — In the light of recent geopolitical tensions in Saudi Arabia, Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte has expressed some discomfort with the troop’s performance in that country on Sept. 23.

During a meeting with the press on Thursday to unveil details around his most recent project, Lune Rouge, the businessman was careful to point out that he no longer holds decision-making power in this company.

“I’m a partner…but I do not make those decisions anymore,” said Laliberte. “Yes, it does something to me, but it’s not me who decides.”

The Cirque show took place before the kingdom became the target of harsh criticism from members of the international community for the alleged murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.

Nonetheless, the troupe’s performance, which took place on Saudi National Day, came in the midst of a diplomatic quarrel between Ottawa and Riyadh — which, among other things, provoked the expulsion of Canada’s ambassador by the kingdom.

Link to Full Article at Financial Post.

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