Thank you for that honor , Rusty.
Thank you for the words of wisdom.
New court filing reveals Papa John’s CEO was framed by ad firm to appear racist
John Schnatter, CEO of Papa John’s Pizza, believes he is one step closer to vindication after a federal court unsealed a complaint alleging that the ad firm “Laundry Service,” hired by Schnatter, actually plotted to destroy his reputation and company.
Laundry Service is a branding company that was originally hired by Papa John’s to help recuperate its public image. A “hot mic” conversation allegedly captured the company’s CEO Jason Stein acknowledging that he would use Schnatter’s previously recorded words out of context to humiliate him.
“[I hope] he gets f***ing sent out to the pasture with this s**t,” Stein reportedly says, according to the court filing.
In the original audio of Schnatter, the Papa John’s CEO was reportedly condemning racism, even blasting a “well-known public figure” for using racially insensitive terminology. Stein and Laundry Service allegedly worked to twist those words in a manner that made Schnatter appear to be the racist.
The filing notes that Stein and his employees attempted to arrange a hostile television interview during which they hoped Schnatter would inadvertently incriminate himself.
A frustrated Schnatter called the contents of the taped conversation “chilling” and noted that it made clear that Laundry Service was simply out to “destroy [his] reputation as well as the Papa John’s brand.”