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Newly unsealed court filing alleges ad firm tried to set up 'Papa John' to look racist
Just the News ^ | March 3, 2021 | Just the News staff

Posted on 03/04/2021 4:13:55 AM PST by gattaca

Updated: March 3, 2021 - 6:54pm Article Dig In Afederal court has unsealed a complaint that alleges a "secret plot" against the former CEO of Papa John's Pizza, John Schnatter, by an ad firm working for the pizza franchise, intending to make the founder look racist and damage his brand.

Laundry Service, a branding company hired by Papa John's to improve its image, was caught on a "hot mic" conversation brainstorming ways in which it could use comments made by Schnatter to damage his image, the court filing said.

Jason Stein, Laundry Service's CEO at the time, recorded a conversation among himself, Schnatter and several employees in which Schnatter reportedly shared his disdain for racism, targeting a "well-known public figure" for using racial slurs.

Just the News made several attempts on deadline to contact Laundry Service to request comment. The agency as of Wednesday evening had yet to respond to the requests.

The unsealed complaint alleges that Stein planned to take Schnatter's words out of context and use them against him. Stein said he hoped that "he gets f***ing sent out to the pasture with this s**t."

Stein and the others involved planned to arrange a hostile television interview hoping the former CEO would make damaging statements that could go viral, the filing said.

You can read the filing here.

File 2021-3-2 amended complaint 50 (1).pdf "The chilling details from this taped conversation make clear the intent of Laundry Services to destroy my reputation as well as the Papa John’s brand," Schnatter said.

"There was nothing racist in my words or actions on the conference call with our ad firm and also proves there has never been in my history," Schnatter said in reference to a review of his actions by former FBI Director Louis Freeh.

Just the News Editor-in-Chief John Solomon previously reported that Schnatter believed he was set up.

These revelations come after several legal battles waged by Schnatter over his pizza business.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: johnschnatter; papajohns
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1 posted on 03/04/2021 4:13:55 AM PST by gattaca
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To: gattaca

Caniving treacherous left


2 posted on 03/04/2021 4:16:10 AM PST by Bayard
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To: gattaca
From 2018...

Laundry Service founder exits three years after sale

3 posted on 03/04/2021 4:18:45 AM PST by mewzilla (Break out the mustard seeds. )
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To: gattaca
More here...

PAPA JOHN’S FOUNDER ALLEGES FORMER LAUNDRY SERVICE CEO IS CAUGHT ON TAPE CONSPIRING TO SEND HIM ‘OUT TO PASTURE’

4 posted on 03/04/2021 4:20:26 AM PST by mewzilla (Break out the mustard seeds. )
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To: mewzilla
From 2015...

Wasserman Media Group Acquires Social Media Agency Laundry Service

5 posted on 03/04/2021 4:22:24 AM PST by mewzilla (Break out the mustard seeds. )
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To: Bayard

The ad business has been taken over by the “woke mob”.


6 posted on 03/04/2021 4:25:54 AM PST by tom paine 2
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To: gattaca

This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are other “firms” that pull this crap. Just like the shister lawyer sending an operative into a business to shake them down for handicap violations.


7 posted on 03/04/2021 4:27:13 AM PST by HighSierra5
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To: gattaca

Removing all competition for their woke friends


8 posted on 03/04/2021 4:30:26 AM PST by ronnie raygun
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To: gattaca

I mentioned it last night - our side needs to BLACKLIST companies that are comprised of Leftists, whether or not they are doing crap like this.

Sure, in many cases, especially with ‘the arts’ that won’t leave too many to choose from*, but our problem stems from the fact that we REALLY THINK that Leftists can keep their politics outside of the office. Whether it’s Sarah Palin’s teleprompter just happening to ‘fail’ during her speech at the 2008 RNC Convention, CPAC last week, or this...it’s time that our side figures out how Leftists think, otherwise this will continue until we’re all locked up and cannot fight them anymore.

*and there are options if forced to use a blacklisted company - such as tightly watching and controlling what they do and assuming we’re being set up...in other words, not giving them the freedom needed to screw us over, yet again.


9 posted on 03/04/2021 4:33:06 AM PST by BobL
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To: HighSierra5

Not a great analogy unless the lawyer in question represented the store and tried to drum up business against his own client.

This is a basic breach of fiduciary duty.


10 posted on 03/04/2021 4:36:50 AM PST by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem)
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To: gattaca

but why? If Papa John was saying he does not agree with racism, why’d they try to screw him over?


11 posted on 03/04/2021 4:41:31 AM PST by ronniesgal (Hillary wants to be Governor of New York!!)
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To: Jewbacca

You’re right but I’m sure there were similar subversive tactics with law firms and the ADA violations they could use against their clients. But as I said,shister lawyers.


12 posted on 03/04/2021 4:46:23 AM PST by HighSierra5
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To: gattaca

Every one with a brain suspected THAT sham


13 posted on 03/04/2021 5:03:41 AM PST by SMARTY ( "Force always attracts men of low morality. " Albert Einstein)
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To: HighSierra5
You’re right but I’m sure there were similar subversive tactics with law firms and the ADA violations they could use against their clients. But as I said,shister lawyers.

Rush called them seminar callers. The NAACP is notorious for calls to real estate agents hoping to comprise some poor broker with claims of violations of the fair housing act. During my brief tenure in real estate sales, my broker educated me about the tire kickers and time wasters who were fishing for a payday.

They also setup confrontations at restaurants or other businesses to damage the image and brand. Jessie Jackass and Al Sharpton are the best example of these shakedown scum, but there are thousands of wannabes out and about.

14 posted on 03/04/2021 5:09:26 AM PST by Islander7 (?There is no septic system so vile, so filthy, the left won't drink from to further their agenda)
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To: gattaca

Since they stole his company I’ve only ordered a couple of times and the quality has gone way down.


15 posted on 03/04/2021 5:13:59 AM PST by outofsalt (If history teaches us anything, it's that history rarely teaches anything.)
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To: ronniesgal
but why? If Papa John was saying he does not agree with racism, why’d they try to screw him over?
Someone wanted to take him out.

Papa John opened a Pandora's Box in Louisville when he criticized Rick Pitino's shortcomings. It made him a target for a lot of local folks.

And I'm sure he had professional enemies as well. You can't be successful in business without ruffling feathers.

16 posted on 03/04/2021 5:17:57 AM PST by Bratch
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To: mewzilla

WOW. I hope he is able to recover a yuge settlement and shut this one down. This willbe another game of whack-a-mole. Insidious targeting.


17 posted on 03/04/2021 5:24:07 AM PST by SueRae (An administration like no other.)
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To: outofsalt

Papa’s John pizza. Or as my wife calls it... Papa Jaundice pizza.


18 posted on 03/04/2021 5:26:07 AM PST by HighSierra5
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To: SueRae

I hope he has the spine to see where this leads and not take a bribe to shut up and go away.


19 posted on 03/04/2021 5:27:11 AM PST by mewzilla (Break out the mustard seeds. )
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To: Islander7; Madame Dufarge
The NAACP is notorious for calls to real estate agents hoping to comprise some poor broker with claims of violations of the fair housing act.

When we were landlords on Cape Cod a Black gentleman applied to live in the cottage behind our house. He appeared to be the perfect tenant! He was our age, a professor at the local JC and his hobby was gourmet cooking. We could hardly wait... As soon as we told him he could move in whenever, he suddenly had business elsewhere and we realized we'd been had by the NAACP. Sorely disappointed at the cheap tactic.

20 posted on 03/04/2021 5:29:43 AM PST by metesky ("Leave us go amongst them." - Rev. Capt. Samuel Johnston Clayton- Ward Bond, The Searchers)
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