Can Papa John’s Customers Forget About Papa John? | Eater
"After multiple scandals involving founder John Schnatter — including a leaked recording of a racial slur that led to his July resignation and subsequent investigative reporting alleging sexual misconduct — the pizza chain has been actively distancing itself from him. It has launched a new ad campaign that spotlights diverse franchisees and employees of different ages and ethnicities speaking directly to the camera, framing the effort as a shift from a single voice to many; company leaders say the campaign follows a nationwide listening effort, public responses on Twitter, the promotion of a Chief of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (Victoria Russell), and two long-term initiatives to support minority-owned franchisees. Facing sliding sales, the company has offered financial assistance to struggling franchisees while grappling with the founder’s ongoing role as largest shareholder and his attempt to rehabilitate his image via a personal website; meanwhile, an investigative report alleging a misogynistic “bro” culture and the complicity of other executives has kept reputational and leadership challenges front and center, even as one senior executive resigned and the CEO remains in place." - Whitney Filloon
