Disgraced Papa John’s Founder Regrets Stepping Down After Racist Remark | Eater
"Founder John Schnatter resigned after a leaked recording of him using the N-word during a media-training call surfaced; he initially apologized but now says stepping down was a mistake and accuses the board of failing to investigate. He claims the agency that conducted the training provoked him and has alleged the company tried to blackmail him for $6 million to keep quiet. The episode follows a pattern of controversial public statements—most notably blaming falling sales on NFL players kneeling—that led him to step down as CEO earlier and coincided with the NFL dropping the chain as its official pizza sponsor in favor of Pizza Hut. The company has moved to distance itself by revoking his corporate headquarters access, removing him from advertisements, and asking him not to speak to the media." - Whitney Filloon
