Papa John’s changes image after founder’s use of slur

NEW YORK — Papa John’s, which has featured founder John Schnatter as a spokesman in logos and TV ads, has begun pulling his image from its marketing and pledged to assess its diversity practices in response to his use of a racial slur.

Schnatter’s face was off some materials by Friday, though the pizza chain said there are no plans to change its name. Schnatter is still on the board and is the company’s largest shareholder.

CEO Steve Ritchie said Friday the company will retain an outside expert to audit its processes related to diversity and inclusion. He said senior managers will hold “listening sessions” to give employees a platform for any concerns.

Schnatter came under fire this week after a Forbes report that he used the N-word during a media-training conference call in May. When asked how he would distance himself from racist groups, Schnatter reportedly complained that Colonel Sanders never faced a backlash for using the word.

Schnatter, 56, subsequently said he would resign as chairman and issued a statement of apology acknowledging the use of “inappropriate and hurtful” language.

In a radio interview with WHAS in Louisville on Friday, Schnatter said he was “just talking the way that the Colonel talked.” He said the comment was taken out of context but that he nevertheless felt “sick” about the incident. “I said it, and it’s wrong,” he said. Last year, Schnatter stepped down as CEO after blaming disappointing pizza sales on the outcry surrounding National Football League players kneeling during the U.S. national anthem.