Papa John’s founder John Schnatter will step down as CEO next month, weeks after criticizing NFL leadership for its handling of the national anthem protests, according to the Associated Press.
“The company said Thursday that Schnatter remains chairman but will be replaced as chief executive by Chief Operating Officer Steve Ritchie on Jan. 1,” reports AP.
Papa John’s is the official pizza of the NFL.
According to ESPN, Schnatter during an earnings call in October blamed its relationship with the NFL for slowed sales growth, adding that he was “disappointed” with how NFL leadership were handling the national anthem issue.
After the comments were made public, a white supremacist publication endorsed Papa John’s as their official pizza.
Papa John’s faced a firestorm of criticism for Schnatter’s remarks, prompting the company to issue an apology condemning white supremacists a couple weeks later.
“The statements made on our earnings call were describing the factors that impact our business and we sincerely apologize to anyone that thought they were divisive. That definitely was not our intention,” wrote Papa John’s on Twitter. “We believe in the right to protest inequality and support the players’ movement to create a new platform for change. We also believe together, as Americans, we should honor our anthem. There is a way to do both.”
“We will work with the players and league to find a positive way forward. Open to ideas from all. Except neo-nazis — [f***] those guys,” the company continued.
Papa John’s would not say whether Schnatter’s NFL comments were a factor in his ousting.
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