PHOENIX (AZFamily)<\/b> \u2014 The owners of a north Phoenix restaurant claim they are being targeted due to their political beliefs.<\/p>\n
Xolo restaurant owner JJ Zarraga said he loves what he does because cooking is in his blood.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor us, it\u2019s all about the flavor,\u201d Zarraga said. \u201cWhere we really excel is in those bright, green, citrusy salsa flavors.\u201d<\/p>\n
But recently, things have turned sour. He and his fianc\u00e9 Kirk have received a death threat and seen their business flooded with fake negative reviews online after their political views were shared on social media.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have been receiving insane amounts of backlash at this point,\u201d Zarraga said.<\/p>\n
Two days ago, the owners said they were shocked to find their restaurant bombarded with hate comments and even a threat suggesting someone should shoot up the business.<\/p>\n
It started after a Phoenix-based content creator posted photos from Zarraga and Kirk\u2019s private social media accounts. In one photo, Kirk was holding a sign showing support for former President Donald Trump. <\/p>\n
The creator wrote that he wouldn\u2019t eat at their restaurant, arguing the couple was \u201cprofiting off\u201d a culture not supported by people they follow, such as Trump and the former first lady.<\/p>\n
The TikTok has since been viewed more than 35,000 times.<\/p>\n
Arizona\u2019s Family reached out to the content creator, who declined to go on camera but spoke with us over the phone. He said he does not condone violence or fake reviews.<\/p>\n
Zarraga, however, said the attacks have crossed a line.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a family establishment, and we have kids,\u201d he said. \u201cWe mind our business and we don\u2019t tell people what to say. It\u2019s very unfortunate when people do this to us when we don\u2019t reciprocate it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The owners stated that they openly support Trump. A photo of his attempted assassination even hangs behind their bar. Still, they insist their focus is on food, not politics.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen it comes to those threats, we will be taking them to the authorities,\u201d Zarraga said.<\/p>\n
For now, they\u2019re hoping to get back to what they love: sharing the flavors of Zarraga\u2019s family recipes from Guanajuato, Mexico.<\/p>\n
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