Cincinnati’s Lucius Q BBQ in Crisis After Kirk Comments

The Cincinnati restaurant chain Lucius Q BBQ is facing intense scrutiny after co-owner Aaron Sharpe made controversial comments celebrating the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The backlash has already cost the business major contracts, including its high-profile partnership with TQL Stadium, home of FC Cincinnati.

What Sparked the Controversy

On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot during a student debate event at Utah Valley University. The shooting has been described by officials as a political assassination.

Hours after the news broke, Aaron Sharpe — a minority partner in Lucius Q Cincinnati — posted on Facebook: “Good riddance! What a piece of s**.”* The remarks quickly spread online after being shared by political commentator Gunther Eagleman, triggering widespread outrage.

Instead of retracting his comments, Sharpe doubled down, saying he would not be silenced by social media backlash.

Businesses Cut Ties

The consequences for Lucius BBQ were immediate:

• TQL Stadium / FC Cincinnati: Announced the termination of its vendor agreement with Lucius Q BBQ Cincinnati, stating that all partners must reflect values of “respect and tolerance.”
  
• Factory 52 in Norwood: Condemned the remarks and said it was reviewing legal options regarding its business relationship with the BBQ chain.
  
• Avril Bleh Meat Market: Ended its supplier partnership with Lucius Q, stressing the importance of aligning with brands that reflect its values.
  

In response, Lucius Q BBQ issued a statement confirming that Aaron Sharpe is no longer associated with the business. The company described him as a minority partner and stressed that his social media posts do not reflect the values of the restaurant.

Lucius Q BBQ’s Official Response

“Lucius Q condemns violence in any form for any reason,” the company said in a statement. “We are a locally owned barbeque joint whose purpose is to bring people together and provide employment for more than 30 hardworking individuals.”

The restaurant emphasized that Sharpe’s comments were made on his personal Facebook account and not on behalf of Lucius Q Cincinnati.

Bigger Picture

The controversy highlights the growing challenges businesses face when partners or employees make inflammatory political statements online. For Lucius BBQ, distancing itself from Aaron Sharpe was a crucial step to protect its reputation and restore trust with its community and business partners.

Whether the swift action will be enough to repair the damage remains to be seen, but for now, the Cincinnati chain is working to separate its brand from the fallout of one man’s words.