Looks like Papa John’s founder John Schnatter isn’t done just yet. He’s now suing the pizza company for what his lawyers explained as “the unexplained and heavy-handed way in which the company has treated him since the publication of a story that falsely accused him of using a racial slur,” CNN reports.
So here’s the background story. Y’all may remember back in January the former CEO stepped down after he called out the NFL for not “resolving” the national anthem protests, which he claimed hurt business. Then, earlier this month, he admitted to using the N-word on a company conference call back in May during a role-playing exercise.
Of course, John said he was sorry, but then the company asked him to resign as chairman of its board of directors, and apparently that’s what really pissed him off. John stepped down like requested but now he’s had a change of heart.
According to CNN, he said he regrets stepping away from the company and he’s accusing the board of not “doing any investigation.” He also claimed they acted off of a “rumor and innuendo”… even though he admitted to using the racial slur himself.
Schnatter lost his office at the Papa John’s headquarters and was removed from the company’s commercials and marketing materials, however he still owns 29% stock.
