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The statement, sent to the Star and signed by Cup It Up owners Christopher Smith and Jay Warren, came after the pair was criticized for a Facebook post on Friday that laid out their political beliefs. Among them was support for President Trump and opposition to NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem.

鈥淥ur decision to bring our personal political beliefs into a business forum is regretful, and for this we apologize to all,鈥� the pair鈥檚 statement read.

Earlier Saturday, Smith had toyed with the idea of indefinitely closing the restaurant, located in the bustling Main Gate district near the UA, in light of the widespread condemnation for the politically charged post.

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鈥淚t鈥檚 hate feedback and it鈥檚 for one reason only and it鈥檚 that we showed our support for Donald Trump,鈥� he said Saturday morning. 鈥淭here was nothing that we put in the post that was absolutely wrong and terrible in that we supported our president and our troops.鈥�

Cup it Up鈥檚 Facebook post was up for three hours Friday before it was removed. On Saturday, the restaurant鈥檚 Facebook page was deleted.

In the Smith-Warren statement, the pair admitted they 鈥渘ever ever fathomed this would create such negative and hateful responses, including threats to burn down our building with us inside.鈥�

鈥淭hese types of comments have no place regardless of anyone鈥檚 political beliefs,鈥� the statement read. 鈥淲e assumed there would be some discussion and shares, but never this type of animosity and hostility.鈥�

The pair also said Cup It Up operating partner Julian Alarcon was not involved in drafting Friday鈥檚 Facebook post, which listed global warming, fake news and political correctness among issues it opposed.

Alarcon, the architect of the restaurant鈥檚 multilayered meals-in-a-cup menu, submitted his resignation to his partners on Saturday and was working with an attorney to legally untangle himself from the restaurant at 760 N. Tyndall Ave.

鈥淭his is just the first step of me removing myself from this company,鈥� he said, noting that he spent hours Friday night reaching out to diners, investors, employees and customers.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 know the reasoning for this,鈥� he said, adding that business at the restaurant, which opened in early 2016 and moved to the North Tyndall Avenue space in April, had been good.

鈥淲e catered to several teams at the UA, plus the Alumni Association just picked us up as their preferred caterer this year. With all this coming on board with us, we were ecstatic,鈥� Alarcon said.

Alarcon said the Facebook post and backlash cost the restaurant supporters and customers. Its 4.9-star Facebook rating, 鈥渨hich we worked really hard to get,鈥� was at two stars by the time the page was deleted, he said.

Meanwhile, the Pima County Republican Party on Saturday morning took to Facebook to encourage people to support Cup It Up. Ana Henderson, the county GOP鈥檚 first vice chairman, invited people to the restaurant from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10.

鈥淭hose who hate and disparage freedom that was fought for by many in behalf of ALL and represented by our United States Flag must not be heard louder than you,鈥� she wrote. 鈥淭hose who 鈥榯ake a knee鈥� and lash out in our community at our freedom must witness our strength and our voice in our community. Do not surrender to enslavement. Stand together now 鈥� stand with me!鈥�

When reached Saturday afternoon, Pima GOP Chairman David Eppihimer said he was not aware of the issue or the restaurant, but said the party supported the issues outlined in Cup It Up鈥檚 Facebook post.