Tucson eatery closes amid backlash over pro-Trump Facebook post
Oct 9, 2017, 4:33 PM | Updated: Oct 10, 2017, 11:22 am
(Facebook Photo)
(Facebook Photo)
PHOENIX — The owners of a Tucson restaurant decided to close their doors indefinitely amid backlash over a Facebook post that supported President Donald Trump.
The Arizona Daily Star said Cup It Up American Grill made the decision to close after it received numerous threatening and harassing phone calls and emails after the Friday post.
A screenshot of the post read it was “time Cup It Up American Grill made a statement” and the owners said they supported “always standing for the national anthem,” “legal immigration” and “repealing Obamacare,” in addition to other things, including the president.
The owners, Christopher Smith and Jay Warren, said they opposed “fake news,” “global warming” and “political correctness,” among other topics.
After online opposition began to grow, Smith told the Star he stood by what he wrote.
“It’s hate feedback and it’s for one reason only and it’s that we showed our support for Donald Trump,” he said. “There was nothing that we put in the post that was absolutely wrong and terrible in that we supported our president and our troops.”
Smith and Warren later apologized for the post. It was online for only three hours, but it reached thousands on the popular social media site.
“Our decision to bring our personal political beliefs into a business forum is regretful, and for this we apologize to all,” the pair said in a statement to the Star.
The restaurant’s Facebook page was later deleted.
The newspaper reported that several employees quit because of the calls and messages. Operating partner Julian Alarcon, who was not involved in the post, resigned Saturday.
“This is just the first step of me removing myself from this company,” he said, noting that he spent hours Friday night reaching out to diners, investors, employees and customers.
Pima County Republican Party Vice Chairwoman Ana Henderson said in a post that a rally would be held outside the restaurant to show support.
“Censorship of any business at any level is an attack on our First Amendment rights,” she wrote. “If we don’t take a stand, we will be subservient to the political bullies who will continue to tax your world and use your own hard-earned paycheck against you.”
