Cirque du Soleil performer who broke 11 bones in 2024 fall sues company for $16.75 million
A Cirque du Soleil aerial performer who suffered 11 broken bones after falling about 15 feet during a 2024 performance is suing the company for $16.75 million, alleging that inadequate safety measures contributed to her injuries.
Mariia Konfektova, a Russian citizen who had performed as an aerial hoop artist for years, filed the lawsuit Thursday in Multnomah County Circuit Court in Oregon. She was performing in Cirque du Soleil’s “KOOZA” production at the Portland Expo Center when she fell from an aerial hoop.
The lawsuit says Konfektova was moving between positions when her right foot slipped while her other foot remained wrapped around a rope above the hoop. Her hands were touching the hoop for balance but were not gripping it, causing her to fall toward the stage.
Konfektova suffered fractures to her skull, wrist, lower back, and seven facial bones, along with other injuries, according to the lawsuit. She underwent multiple surgeries and claims she has been left with permanent physical injuries.
She alleges Cirque du Soleil failed to provide adequate protection, including safety mats, nets, or other systems designed to protect performers from falls. She also claims the company failed to address concerns she had previously raised about the rigging used during the performance.
Several months after the incident, Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division fined Cirque du Soleil $8,070 for failing to have appropriate safety systems in place. The company reportedly told OSHA that it generally required fall protection for performances conducted at heights of 20 feet or more, while Konfektova's routine took place approximately 15 feet above the stage.
OSHA also cited the company for an issue involving the composition of an employee safety committee, although no financial penalty was imposed for that violation. Cirque du Soleil appealed one of the citations in January 2025, and the matter remains pending.
Konfektova’s lawsuit also points to other fall-related injuries involving Cirque du Soleil performances and training between 2006 and 2021, including two fatalities.
Before the accident, Konfektova had approximately eight years of experience as an aerial hoop performer and held a Guinness World Record for completing the most seated aerial hoop rotations in 30 seconds.
She has since shared photographs documenting some of her injuries, including a black eye and a bloodied nose.
The lawsuit remains pending. Konfektova’s attorney declined to comment, while Cirque du Soleil also declined to discuss the case.
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