LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) – The CEO of Papa John’s has released a statement to customers, just a couple of days after its founder apologized for using racist language in a May telephone call.
In the letter sent to customers Sunday, Steve Ritchie apologized and referred to the fallout as the “hardest week” in his 22 years with the company.
Ritchie reassures customers that Schnatter’s words do not reflect his views or the values of the company.
It was revealed by Forbes that the “Better Ingredients, Better Pizza” founder used the N-word while on a call with a public relations firm that was allegedly designed to help them avoid further public relations issues.
Schnatter has since stepped down from his role on the University of Louisville Board of Trustees, had his name removed from the school’s College of Business: Center of Free Enterprise and the Nachand Fieldhouse in Jeffersonville, Ind.
The Papa John’s name will no longer be displayed on Cardinal Stadium.
The company is working overtime to distance itself from the controversial comments and Ritchie says “Papa John’s is not an individual” but a company with more than “120,000 employees and franchise team members worldwide”.
Ritchie plans to take aggressive action in improving diversity and inclusion practices by bringing in outside experts to identify their strengths and weaknesses.
He says Papa John’s will set goals to do better and will work hard to regain the public’s trust.
This past week was the hardest week in my 22 years with Papa John's. I know the words of John Schnatter were offensive, and nothing pains me more than knowing they hurt you. To be clear, those words in no way represent my views or the values of our company. As the leader of Papa John's, I'm sorry.
Racism and insensitive language - no matter the context - will not be tolerated at any level of our company. Period.
Papa John's is not an individual. Papa John's is a pizza company with 120,000 corporate and franchise team members around the world. These are the people in your communities from all walks of life who work hard to provide you with better service and better pizza. These are your local owners and operators who do so much in your community.
Still, you deserve actions, not just words, so here's what we're going to do about it:
• We're in the process of bringing in outside experts to help audit our company's culture and diversity and inclusion practices. This will allow us to identify our strengths and weaknesses. We will then set clear goals to do better.
• Our senior management team will be on the road, listening to our employees and franchisees and getting their feedback on a path to move forward.
• We'll be transparent with you along the way. We want you to hold us accountable.
I will personally be leading this effort because there is nothing more important for Papa John's right now. We want to regain your trust, and we will work hard to earn it. I know this will take time.
The entire team at Papa John's wants to thank you for your loyalty. We are only in business because of you. And it's our sincere wish that we'll continue to have the honor of serving you.
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