Lucius Q, a popular Cincinnati barbecue restaurant, said Friday that Aaron Sharpe is no longer associated with the business after Sharpe posted disparaging comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk following the lawmaker's fatal shooting at a campus event in Utah.
The restaurant's announcement came after several of Lucius Q’s business partners suspended or ended relationships with the eatery in response to screenshots of Sharpe’s social media comments, which included the phrases "Good riddance" and "What a piece of s--t," according to posts that circulated online. Police arrested a 22-year-old suspect in the killing, authorities said Friday.
In a post on its Facebook page, Lucius Q said the comments on Sharpe’s personal pages were "offensive" and did not reflect the views of the restaurant’s remaining owners, investors, management or staff. The company said it had "severed ties" with Sharpe and issued "a personal apology to the family of Charlie Kirk." Lucius Q added that removing a minority owner from a partnership is a difficult process but that Sharpe is "no longer involved with Lucius Q in any way, shape or form." The restaurant told Fox News Digital that other legal details remain pending.
Several partners made public statements as the controversy unfolded. TQL Stadium, the home of Major League Soccer’s FC Cincinnati and a former Lucius Q vendor site, said it had terminated its relationship with the restaurant and emphasized that vendors and partners are expected to "uphold the values of respect and tolerance" central to the club’s identity. Avril Bleh Meat Market, Lucius Q’s longtime meat supplier, posted on Facebook that it had ended its relationship with the restaurant and said, "We never condone violence of any sort." Steve Bleh, one of the family members involved with the butcher shop, wrote that the family did not want to be involved with Lucius Q and that "no amount of money will ever be worth it."
Lucius Q has two locations: a flagship restaurant in the Pendleton neighborhood and a presence inside the Gatherall food hall at the Factory 52 development in Norwood. Both venues said they were taking the matter seriously and reviewing legal options. The restaurant was founded in 2018 by Aaron Sharpe, Jeff Keate and Shane Spears and was featured on a 2020 episode of the Food Network program "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives."
Screenshots of Sharpe’s now-deleted posts circulated widely on social media. Media coverage noted that Sharpe later posted on Facebook that he would not be silenced by "threats of social media attacks" and doubled down on his remarks. By late Friday morning, Sharpe’s public Facebook account appeared to be deactivated. A LinkedIn profile that appeared to belong to him had also been removed. Fox News Digital said it reached out to Sharpe for comment.
The online backlash against Lucius Q grew rapidly. The restaurant reported receiving thousands of messages on its social accounts, and reviewers posted dozens of one-star ratings on its Google listing. Some social media users questioned whether the business could legally oust a minority owner quickly; Lucius Q acknowledged that formal removal involves legal processes but reiterated that Sharpe no longer participates in restaurant operations.
Lucius Q has said it takes its commitment to Cincinnati seriously and pledged to "earn back" customers. The company apologized to Kirk’s family on behalf of the restaurant and its staff. Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent conservative commentator, was shot and killed while speaking at a campus event in Utah earlier this week; a 22-year-old suspect was arrested, authorities announced Friday.
The developments add to a series of high-profile instances in which business owners’ personal statements prompted swift responses from partners and vendors. Lucius Q’s remaining owners said they would continue to run the restaurant and work to repair community relationships amid the scrutiny over the incident.
