It’s been just over a year since “Papa John” Schnatter was forced to resign as chairman of the Papa John’s Pizza board of directors in July of 2018, following media reports that he had used an N-word on a conference call the previous May. And if anyone was wondering how Schnatter has been doing since he was ousted from his own company, the answer is just fine.
In a (rather terrifying) new interview with a local Louisville Fox affiliate, Schnatter has broken his silence over the controversy and the former CEO believes that he was set up. Oh, and this thing goes all the way to the top—almost like an alleged pizza-gate, you might even say!
“Oh, there’s no question about it. And the public knows it. This is all a farce,” Schnatter said, speaking with WDRB reporter Stephan Johnson. “They fabricated it, shame on them.”
He had particularly harsh words for former CEO Steve Ritchie, who took the reigns after Schnatter previously had to step down over his other NFL controversy the year before. “Steve Ritchie … the board of directors all used the black community and race as a way to steal the company,” Schnatter continued. “They stole the company, and now they’ve destroyed the company.”
As to how they’ve destroyed the company, which is now being run by former president of Arby’s Rob Lynch, well … That’s where things veer down into the conspiracy well.
“I’ve had over 40 pizzas in the last 30 days, and it’s not the same pizza,” Schnatter claimed, wildly. “It’s not the same product. It just doesn’t taste as good. “The way they’re making the pizza is just not fundamental to what makes a Papa John’s pizza.”
In fact, the whole thing was so bonkers that journalist Timothy Burke compiled the best parts into a convenient 26-second soundbite.
The Papa John interview is lovely pic.twitter.com/bpDMDm9t9G
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) November 26, 2019
Between the copious sweat and dry mouth noises—which can only be a result of eating 40 pizzas in 30 days—this is not the beaming Papa John we used to know from our pizza boxes. And what was that he said about a day of reckoning??
The interview unsurprisingly quickly went viral, and let’s just say people are decidedly unsettled! Chrissy Teigen, Elizabeth Banks, and others had capital-T thoughts about Papa John’s tirade.
papa john has fucking HAD IT https://t.co/6khz6avpSL
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) November 26, 2019
With the sound off, this just looks like an ad for Hell. https://t.co/wMhYWTZoyS
— Elizabeth Banks (@ElizabethBanks) November 26, 2019
Guys don't worry, Papa John is fine and totally not insane at all! 😄 pic.twitter.com/gKGnTsyqMe
— Salt (@saltydkdan) November 26, 2019
Papa John warning us of “the day of reckoning” is way more foreboading then if anybody else were to say it
The way he laughs after makes it feel like a horror movie https://t.co/JL3JlJ0zmG
— Salty (@saltydkdan) November 26, 2019
I wish there was a way to watch this with the mouthsounds off https://t.co/7pPVRjCXjZ
— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) November 26, 2019
Papa John The Pizza Man: “The Day Of Reckoning Will Come” https://t.co/XvcHlMMUfZ
— Laura Wagner (@laurawags) November 26, 2019
https://twitter.com/CHIMPSINSOCKS/status/1199233336629182464
“This footage is from the Hell dimension in EVENT HORIZON,” wrote Patrick Monahan, evoking the 1997 sci-fi horror movie.
This footage is from the Hell dimension in EVENT HORIZON https://t.co/c8nwR9TMCT
— Patrick Monahan (@pattymo) November 26, 2019
And there were plenty of other jokes about the glistening, glossy sheen of sweat and/or oil covering Papa John’s skin.
“Papa John is slowly but surely turning into a breathing garlic knot,” wrote another user, of a possible side effect of consuming literal gallons of that butter sauce they give away with the pizza.
Papa John is slowly but surely turning into a breathing garlic knot https://t.co/AGh0xsrYCP
— FINNEAS (@finneas) November 26, 2019
when you’re not allowed to make pizza anymore but you’ve still got all that olive oil to use up https://t.co/pbN2sFGREA
— Jess Dweck (@TheDweck) November 26, 2019
papa john is clearly on what we call the “elvis life trajectory” where you rule the world for a decade or two then turn into a disgusting sweaty monster who gets winded from watching sports https://t.co/YRQHiJlsnH
— mr cant spell good (@KrangTNelson) November 26, 2019
Why is Papa John so wet? https://t.co/Hy6ZYMb5Ek
— Zack Bornstein (@ZackBornstein) November 26, 2019
“Homosexuality is an abomination!” shouted Papa John as he poured grease onto his head and called it a pizza. https://t.co/PCJvCKhci6
— The Volatile Mermaid (@OhNoSheTwitnt) November 26, 2019
https://twitter.com/JESnowden/status/1199197319788421120
But perhaps the most puzzling thing of all: why is he still wearing a bright red button-down shirt??
just want to acknowledge his commitment to wearing gaudy red button downs even if they can’t have the papa john’s logo anymore https://t.co/vfTBFBTMCY
— Josh Billinson (@jbillinson) November 26, 2019
This is fine. Papa John is fine. Everything is just fine!
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