Papa John’s Pizza founder John Schnatter used the n-word during a 2018 training call with an agency hired to teach him acceptable communication techniques. Schnatter claimed that Colonel Sanders routinely said n***** without repercussions.
Within days, Schnatter’s racist reference sent his career into a free fall. He called me and asked “Do you want to interview me?”
I told him that there could be no limitations on the subject matter and that I needed 15 minutes to get to a WHAS Radio studio to record it. Schnatter agreed to the terms.
The conversation lasted 28 minutes even though Schnatter attempted to end it earlier.
It made national news when Schnatter’s reluctant apology leaked into defiance and blaming others for coercing him to say the n-word. Here’s the audio: WHAS Radio John Schnatter interview.
Schnatter’s high profile friends like Peyton Manning, Jim Nantz, Jeff Gordon, and J.J. Watt scattered quickly. Manning sold all of his interests in Papa John’s stores shortly after the controversy was revealed.
Schnatter maintains that he will someday regain control of the company he founded in spite of being completely purged from all of the store’s imagery and reins of authority.
Today Schnatter entertains his TikTok followers with visual proof of his lavish lifestyle and lovely companions.
📻 My complete interview with @PapaJohns founder John Schnatter. No topics off limits. N-word, who fired whom, @UofL, @NFL "divorce" #philanthropy Who fired Jurich & Pitino, much more 🎙️ https://t.co/cTbrabOfsZ #Louisville #business #loumedia pic.twitter.com/L1HGzQP0Qe
— Terry Meiners (@terrymeiners) July 13, 2018
John Schnatter’s fans:
