Papa John's founder John Schnatter admits he used N-word, decries racism, resigns as chairman

(Image credit: Rob Kim/Getty Images)

The "news reports attributing the use of inappropriate and hurtful language to me during a media training session regarding race are true," Papa John's founder and chairman John Schnatter said in a statement Wednesday, effectively confirming a Forbes report that he used the N-word in a conference call with the firm he'd hired to resuscitate his image. "Regardless of the context, I apologize. Simply stated, racism has no place in our society." On Wednesday night, Papa John's said the board of directors had accepted Schnatter's resignation as chairman and would replace him "in the coming weeks."

Schnatter, the public face of Papa John's, reportedly complained on the call with marketing company Laundry Service about his forced resignation as chief executive last year after saying the NFL's handling of anthem-kneeling players had hurt Papa John's bottom line. KFC founder "Colonel Sanders called blacks n-----s" and never faced any consequences, he said, according to Forbes. Schnatter, 54, also resigned from the University of Louisville board of trustees. He is still the largest shareholder in the pizza company he founded in 1984, controlling 29 percent of its stocks. Papa John's shares closed down 4.8 percent on Wednesday.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Explore More

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.