Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2022
Papa John's faces backlash over Russian franchise stores
Public backlash
Papa John's faced heavy criticism on social media after a U.S. franchise operator in Russia refused to close 190 stores, despite the company saying it had suspended corporate operations there following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The article also reports calls for boycotts in the United States.
Source excerpt
Pizza chain Papa John's is facing heavy criticism on social media after a U.S. franchise operator in Russia refused to close 190 stores, even after the company said it would suspend all corporate operations there after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Many people called for boycotts stateside.
2021
Papa John's sued over alleged race discrimination
Lawsuit filed
A Missouri man sued a Papa John's location, alleging employment discrimination and saying he was fired after filing complaints. The article reports the allegations and lawsuit, not a court determination.
Company response
Clarification — Papa John’s
We take all allegations of discrimination very seriously, but as a matter of practice we do not comment on legal matters.
Source excerpt
A St. Ann man is suing the city’s Papa John’s Pizza after experiencing what he calls employment discrimination and getting fired after filing complaints.
Papa John’s sent this statement in response: “We take all allegations of discrimination very seriously, but as a matter of practice we do not comment on legal matters.”
2019
John Schnatter sued Laundry Service and Wasserman Media
Lawsuit filed
John Schnatter filed suit against advertising firm Laundry Service and its parent, Wasserman Media. His team said the claims arose from a secretly recorded meeting and disputed reporting about a racial slur; the suit sought unspecified damages. These are allegations reported in the article, not findings by a court.
Source excerpt
Schnatter said he filed the suit in Kentucky’s Jefferson Circuit Court in Louisville, Ky., against the advertising firm Laundry Service of Brooklyn, N.Y., and its parent company, Wasserman Media, of New York City.
John Schnatter, the founder and former CEO and chairman of Papa John’s International Inc., filed suit Thursday against the ad firm that was at the center of a racial slur leak that lead him to step down in July 2018.
The claims stem from a secretly taped meeting led by Laundry Service in May 2018, some details of which appeared in a salacious news story in Forbes falsely reporting that Mr. Schnatter used a racial slur against African Americans,
2018
John Schnatter remarks controversy
John Schnatter resigned as chairman after acknowledging that he had used a racial slur during a company meeting. The episode contributed to a major leadership and reputation crisis for Papa John's.
2018
NFL comments and sponsorship fallout
Schnatter attributed declining same-store sales to the NFL's handling of player kneeling protests. The company subsequently ended its NFL sponsorship relationship and distanced the operating brand from its founder.