Schnatter, who founded the company in 1984, has yet to give an explanation for his decision. However, US media have speculated that the resignation may be connected to controversial remarks made by the businessman last month during the NFL's take a knee during the national anthem scandal.
"The NFL has hurt us by not resolving the current debacle to the players' and owners' satisfaction," Schnatter said at the time, inferring that poor NFL viewer ratings due to player protests against police injustice directly impacted sales of his pizza. The comments resulted in a public backlash and plummeting stock prices, forcing the company to belatedly apologize and to try distance themselves from neo-Nazis who offered their full-throated support for the company.
We will work with the players and league to find a positive way forward. Open to ideas from all. Except neo-nazis — 🖕those guys. (3/3)
— Papa John's Pizza (@PapaJohns) November 15, 2017
News of Papa John Schnatter's stepping down fired up Twitter once again. Users made jokes about the possible reasons for his decision, and what it will mean for the company's bottom line.
You knew it wasn't looking good for the Papa John's CEO when they had to tell Nazis not to eat their pizza.
— Joe Weisenthal (@TheStalwart) December 21, 2017
Papa John's to rebrand as "Your Mom's New Friend Steve's" with a possible pivot to "Step-Papa Steve's" sometime in the future. https://t.co/lXRPAlt5L2
— Bob Bryan (@RobertBryan4) December 21, 2017
There's a worry that the CEO of Papa John's stepping down will leave the company in disarray and their pizza might actually become good.
— Frank Conniff (@FrankConniff) December 22, 2017
The papal jokes were rife.
BREAKING NEWS: Smoke is billowing out of the chimney at Papa John's Corporate Headquarters, it seems the board has chosen the new Papa.
— Sean O'Connor (@seanoconnz) December 22, 2017
did you say you're looking for a father figure to run your pizza chain pic.twitter.com/3Aj54qxSaU
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) December 21, 2017
Others suggested that Schnatter's departure won't actually affect the pizza's quality much, and that maybe it would only be a boon for the competition.
Well that's nice Papa John's, but making a pizza that doesn't suck would be a great business move as well
— Tim has issues (@LaptopShopWH) December 22, 2017
nearby, Papa Murphy steeples his fingers in front of his grin https://t.co/RqOPnAUVW9
— Molly Priddy (@mollypriddy) December 21, 2017
Trump supporters also came out, defending the embattled company founder, saying that now is the real time to boycott the company.
It's BS that Papa John's founder is stepping down because he defended our flag and all that it stands for.
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) December 21, 2017
The ungrateful & entitled players in the NFL wouldn't be able to play their sport if it weren't for the men & women who come home draped under the flag they dishonor.
Others provided some hilarious reasons as to why they would be good for the job.
can i be the next CEO of papa john's? my qualifications are i'm eating chips out of the bag with a spoon because i'm full of great ideas
— Aparna Nancherla (@aparnapkin) December 22, 2017
Why I Should Be the New CEO of Papa John's (1/58)
— eve peyser (@evepeyser) December 21, 2017
Papa John's President Steve Ritchie will replace Schnatter as CEO. According to the company, a decision will be made on whether Schnatter will be allowed to stay on as spokesman sometime early next year.
