Chris White on July 12, 2018
Papa John’s CEO John Schnatter resigned Wednesday night from the company he helped found after admitting to using a racial slur during a press call in May.
Schnatter allegedly told employees during the call that, “Colonel Sanders called blacks n*ggers.” He also reflected on his childhood in Indiana, when black people were dragged from trucks until they died. He intended for the comments to convey opposition to racism, but some staff people on the call found the remarks offensive.
Papa Johns announced the independent directors of the company accepted Schnatter’s resignation. His remarks come less than a year after he faced backlash in November for blaming NFL leadership for not being able to resolve the ongoing controversy over players kneeling in protest during the national anthem.
