What Celebrities Are Saying About Shutdown of Ringling Bros. Circus

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The reaction to Saturday's announcement that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Productions will cease circus performances in May has sparked mixed reactions: animal rights groups applauded the move while celebrities and the public were divided.

In a statement released by the circus's parent company, Feld Entertainment said: "The decision to end the circus tours was made as a result of high costs coupled with a decline in ticket sales, making the circus an unsustainable business for the company. Following the transition of the elephants off the circus, the company saw a decline in ticket sales greater than could have been anticipated."

"Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey was the original property on which we built Feld Entertainment into a global producer of live entertainment over the past 50 years," said Kenneth Feld, Chairman and CEO of Feld Entertainment. "We are grateful to the hundreds of millions of fans who have experienced Ringling Bros. over the years. Between now and May, we will give them one last chance to experience the joy and wonder of Ringling Bros."

"This was a difficult business decision to make," the statement continued, "but by ending the circus tours, we will be able to concentrate on the other lines of business within the Feld Entertainment portfolio. "Now that we have made this decision, as a company, and as a family, we will strive to support our circus performers and crew in making the transition to new opportunities."

See the reactions to Ringling Bros' announcement (below).