Papa John’s founder: I should be chain’s public face

NEW YORK — The founder of Papa John’s says the pizza chain does well with him as its public face, and it was a mistake for the company to scrub him from its marketing materials after he acknowledged using a racial slur last month.

John Schnatter said in an interview that he believes he can return to TV and radio ads once the public understands the context of his comments.

“My persona resonates with the consumer because it’s authentic, it’s genuine and it’s the truth,” Schnatter said late Wednesday with his lawyer and representative present.

A representative for Papa John’s International Inc. did not respond to a request for comment.

The company has said it appointed a special committee to oversee an external audit of its diversity practices.

Schnatter has been under fire after Forbes reported last month that he used the N- word during a media training conference call in May.

He apologized for using the word, but said it was taken out of context and he didn’t use it as an epithet. He resigned as chairman quickly after the report was published, but subsequently called the decision a “mistake.”

Since then, Schnatter has criticized Papa John’s handling of the matter, saying it acted hastily without investigating what happened. Schnatter

He also criticized the company’s failure to clarify his comments last year blaming disappointing pizza sales on the NFL leadership’s handling of player protests during the national anthem. Those comments were seen as insensitive to players and prompted Schnatter stepping down as CEO last year.

Schnatter said the remarks were aimed at the league’s leadership, not its players.

Keith Hollingsworth, a professor of business at Morehouse College, said it would be best for the company if Schnatter kept a low profile for the near term, regardless.

“Even if everything he’s saying is true, I’m not sure you can convince people of that,” Hollingsworth said.

Hollingsworth said he thinks Schnatter can eventually return in a public role, but he needs to give it some time.

Schnatter remains a board member and owns nearly 30 percent of Papa John’s stock. Following the Forbes report, Papa John’s adopted a “poison pill” plan to prevent him from mounting a takeover.