Edited on Oct 20, 2026
When aerialist Yann Arnaud died after falling during a performance of VOLTA in Tampa on March 17, 2018, Cirque du Soleil issued a statement within hours, canceled the final two shows the next day and refunded tickets bought through its own channels automatically. The company named the loss, put its people first and promised full and transparent collaboration with authorities. The case is a useful crisis communications example for live entertainment because the first response was fast, specific and human, and because an earlier fatality in 2013 shaped how the story was covered.
In this guide
What happened?
Yann Arnaud, 38, a French aerialist and a veteran of more than 15 years with the company, fell onto the stage during an aerial number in VOLTA at the Under the Big Top tent on Nebraska Avenue in Tampa, Florida, on Saturday, March 17, 2018. He was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where he died of his injuries. NBC News reported that he was a husband and the father of two young children. VOLTA had premiered in Montreal on April 20, 2017, and the Tampa run was due to end on March 18.
| Date | Event | Source as reported |
|---|
| March 17, 2018 | Arnaud falls during VOLTA in Tampa and is taken to hospital | WFLA; NBC News |
| March 17 to 18 | Cirque issues a statement; Tampa Police and OSHA open investigations as standard protocol | WFLA; WPTV |
| March 18 | The last two Tampa shows are canceled; purchases through Cirque's site and call center are refunded automatically | NBC Miami; WPTV |
| March 2018 | Lamarre tells Reuters the death is the third involving a Cirque performer in the company's 34 years | NBC News |
How did Cirque du Soleil respond in the first 48 hours?
Cirque du Soleil responded in three moves that crisis teams still study: a statement that put people first, an immediate operational decision and a promise of cooperation.
The statement. President and CEO Daniel Lamarre said the entire Cirque du Soleil family was in shock and devastated, that Yann had been with the company for over fifteen years and was loved by all who knew him, and that the focus over the coming days and weeks would be supporting Yann's family and employees, especially the VOLTA team.
The operational decision. The company canceled the last two VOLTA shows in Tampa, scheduled for March 18 at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. It stated that anyone who bought through the Cirque du Soleil website or call center would be refunded automatically on the original card, and that other buyers should contact their point of sale.
The cooperation pledge. The company said it was offering full and transparent collaboration to the authorities as they looked into the accident and was gathering more information. Tampa Police and OSHA investigated as standard protocol, and local reports said the death appeared to be accidental.
How did the 2013 incident shape coverage?
The 2018 coverage was framed by an earlier tragedy. In June 2013, aerialist Sarah Guillot-Guyard died in a fall during a performance of KÀ at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Nevada OSHA cited Cirque du Soleil and the casino, and Cirque eventually settled, reducing six citations to one, the Las Vegas Sun reported. News reports on Arnaud's death carried that history within hours.
Lamarre told Reuters that the death was the third involving a Cirque performer in the company's 34 years, and that the aerial straps act was considered a relatively safe number. Addressing the company's record directly rather than leaving it to reporters is a practice other live-entertainment brands can adopt.
What does this crisis example teach communications teams?
These lessons are EPR's reading of the public record above:
- Lead with people, then facts. The statement began with grief, named the performer and his service, and promised support for his family and colleagues.
- Make the first operational decision immediately. Canceling the remaining shows and announcing refunds answered the audience's first question before it was asked.
- Be specific about what customers should do. The refund instructions separated direct purchases from third-party purchases.
- Promise cooperation and keep it. Pledging transparent collaboration with investigators set the tone for the weeks ahead.
- Expect the archive to surface. A prior incident becomes part of the coverage of the next one, so a company with a history should be ready to speak to it.
What happened after 2018?
In June 2020, as the pandemic shut down live entertainment worldwide, Cirque du Soleil filed for creditor protection, and it emerged from restructuring under new ownership later that year. The 2013 and 2018 incidents are still cited when the brand appears in crisis communications discussions, which shows how long a crisis file lasts.
Where does this fit in EPR's crisis coverage?
Related: Crisis PR, Entertainment and media PR, Reputation management, Crisis plan for hospitality
