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Papa John’s Founder John Schnatter: ‘It Was a Mistake’ to Resign

“I never used the ‘N’ word in that meeting as a racial epithet, nor would I ever.”

Papa John’s founder John Schnatter doubled down in his fight against media consulting agency Laundry Service last Saturday in a letter to the board of directors, according to a Tuesday report from CNBC. In the letter, Schnatter claims that during his now-infamous call with media consulting agency Laundry Service this May, he refused to partner with Kanye West for promotions because “he uses the N-word in his lyrics,” apparently citing that refusal as evidence that he is not a racist. “I then said something on the order of, Colonel Sanders used the word ‘N’ (I actually used the word,) that I would never use that word and Papa John’s doesn’t use that word,” he said to the board. “Let me be very clear: I never used the ‘N’ word in that meeting as a racial epithet, nor would I ever.” He also lambasted the board for forcing him to resign without fully investigating the contents of last Wednesday’s Forbes article, in which Schnatter admitted to using the racial slur on the call. “The board asked me to step down as chairman without apparently doing any investigation,” he wrote. “I agreed, though today I believe it was a mistake to do so. I have checked with corporate governance experts who tell me that this was not a proper action by the Board.” Schnatter’s lawyer echoed her client, CNBC adds, noting that Schnatter is “not going quietly.”