Papa John's founder goes rogue, creates website to 'Save Papa John's'
John Schnatter, the disgraced founder and former CEO of Papa John's, is asking for help.
After resigning as chairman of the board in July and being ousted from the company following reports that he used a racial slur during a May conference call, Schnatter is trying very, very hard to salvage his reputation, business, and personal brand.
It seems the former face of the pizza place has created a website called SavePapaJohns.com, which he's now using to bypass the board and directly communicate with Papa John's employees.
No, this is not a joke.
Upon visiting SavePapaJohns.com, you'll see Schnatter proudly declare that he is Papa John. He then goes on to explain that he created the website because Papa John’s board wants to silence him.
"This is my website, and my way to talk to you," he wrote, addressing employees.
The website, which is actually pretty OK design-wise, goes on to include an About Me section that lists Schnatter's awards and accomplishments, related press releases and news coverage, letters he's written, and, um, his own personal legal documents?
After watching Schnatter's reputation go up in flames over the past few years with the reports of his racist conference call comment and other controversial moments, like the time he blamed NFL protests for a decrease in sales, many people were perplexed by the website. And it wasn't long before they called Schnatter out.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
In a recent letter to Papa John's employees, Schnatter wrote the following:
"The Board will not let me talk to you and that has been very difficult. I can only imagine how difficult this entire situation is on you, and I’m very sorry you all have to go through this...
Recently it has come to my attention that you have been told that I want items with my image or likeness removed from the building and other Papa John's assets. That is not the case at all. As you all know, Papa John's is our life's work and we will all get through this together somehow, some way."
It was recently reported that Schnatter would be removed from all marketing materials for the company, including pizza boxes. Additionally, the University of Louisville decided to rename its Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.
It seems the pizza place is still keeping the name Papa John's for now, but we'll see if Schnatter's new website will change that.
After all, he claims he IS Papa John.
Nicole is a Senior Editor at Mashable. She primarily covers entertainment and digital culture trends, and in her free time she can be found watching TV, sending voice notes, or going viral on Twitter for admiring knitwear. You can follow her on Twitter @nicolemichele5.
