Skip to content
  • Order Now
  • Subscribe
  • Restaurant Directory
  • News
  • Videos
St. Louis Restaurant Review

St. Louis Restaurant Review

St Louis Restaurant Reviews & News

  • Home
  • Order Online
  • News
  • Directory
    • Brewery Guide
    • Music Venues
    • Missouri Wineries
  • Media
    • Picture Gallery
    • Videos
    • Submit/Create Video
  • eOrderSTL
    • eOrderSTL Application
    • How to increase restaurant sales
  • Contact
    • Services
    • Subscribe
    • About
    • Sitemap
  • Toggle search form
  • Freddy's - National Frozen Custard Day
    Freddy’s – National Frozen Custard Day News
  • Wendy's® Expands Partnership With Adult Swim On Hit Series Rick And Morty
    Wendy’s – Partnership With Adult Swim On Hit Series Rick And Morty News
  • Candicci's Restaurant - Live Music Schedule - October 2022
    Candicci’s Restaurant – Live Music Schedule – October 2022 Entertainment
  • Candicci's Annual Customer Appreciation Party - Dec. 21st
    Candicci’s Annual Customer Appreciation Party – Dec. 21st News
  • Broadway Oyster Bar - Live Music Schedule - Oct. 6th - 9th
    Broadway Oyster Bar – Live Music Schedule – Oct. 6th – 9th Entertainment
  • McAlister's Deli® Opens 500th Restaurant Nationwide
    McAlister’s Deli® Opens 500th Restaurant Nationwide News
  • Candicci's Restaurant - Event Update
    Candicci’s Restaurant – Event Update News
  • Top-10 Cheap Eat Restaurant in St. Louis
    Top-10 Cheap Eat Restaurants in St. Louis Reviews
Bombshell Recording Exonerates Papa John's Founder Of Racism Claims

Bombshell Recording Exonerates Papa John’s Founder Of Racism Claims

Posted on March 31, 2021 By Editor

Bombshell Recording Exonerates Papa John’s Founder Of Racism Claims, Alleges Set-up By Ad Firm Hired By Former Company CEO, Steve Ritchie

John Schnatter says unsealed tape suggests ad firm Laundry Service violated contractual obligations to frame the founder.

LOUISVILLE, KY (StLouisRestaurantReview) Papa John’s – A recording at the heart of a lawsuit launched by Papa John’s founder John Schnatter against Laundry Service, and its parent company Wasserman Media Group, LLC, led by Casey Wasserman, a media agency formerly employed by Papa John’s, was unsealed today, and strongly suggests that Schnatter was set-up in an attempt to justify his ousting from the company.

“It’s a major relief to finally have more facts that reveal the truth of what really happened,” Schnatter said in a statement. “Now the full recording is public, and people have the full picture. Everyone can hear for themselves how I was raised to reject racism totally. The American people can hear for themselves that the Laundry Service staff were laughing about setting me up to take a fall,” he concluded.

The roughly hour-long tape, which was recorded in secret by a Laundry Service executive, includes comments that were at the center of a 2018 media frenzy resulting in Schnatter’s forced departure as Chairman of Papa John’s.  The full recording, however, portrays an entirely different picture than the one painted by the media at the time.

In addition to including multiple instances of Schnatter directly condemning racism, the recording clarifies that his reference to the n-word was made when quoting another restaurant founder, and Schnatter referred in the context of what never to say. Furthermore, immediately after referring, Schnatter can be heard condemning the use of such language when he said, “I never used the word.”  This key part of the recording was left out of news reports and was omitted by Laundry Service in 2018.  More importantly, the recording demonstrates a shocking lack of professionalism and integrity by Laundry Service – and how the company likely violated their contractual obligations, causing serious damage to the founder, employees, franchisees, and the company’s image – and supports Schnatter’s public comments that he was set up.

The recording makes it clear that Schnatter was kept in the dark about the purpose of the meeting to aggravate him as they begin to discuss, unbeknownst to Schnatter, the issue of racism.  It also suggests that Laundry Service orchestrated the call with the intent of getting Schnatter to say something damaging. In the last five minutes of the tape, which features Laundry Service employees talking after the conclusion of the conference call with Schnatter, Laundry Service CEO Jason Stein is heard saying he hopes Schnatter “gets f–king sent out to pasture on this s–t.”

Stein and other employees then go on to discuss how they intend to set up Schnatter with hostile interviewers who, in Stein’s words, will “make sure it’s an hour-long conversation so that he says s–t like he said here.”  Another employee is then heard saying, “I want whatever we recorded to be like the actual interview.”  The recording indicates that Stein was already recruiting journalists to implement his plan. “I already spoke to Darren Rovell, who said he gets it,” Stein is heard saying about the setup.

What makes the “hot mic” exchange in the final few minutes of the tape all the more shocking is that earlier in the recording, at a point during which Laundry Service mutes its end of the line, Jason Stein can be heard saying, “I think by Sunday John won’t be working … anymore.”

“This recording is absolutely astonishing,” said Dennis Murrell of Middleton Reutlinger, representing Mr. Schnatter.  “Rarely in my career have I heard anything like it. The comments made by Laundry Service executives on the recording, in addition to betraying a shockingly unprofessional level of personal bias, indicate a clear and intentional conspiracy to damage John’s reputation, and we believe clearly that Laundry Service violated their contractual obligations,” he continued.

Reference: Civil Action No. 3:20-cv-000003-CHBCHL

News Tags:papa john's

Post navigation

Previous Post: Pizza Hut Launches The Hut Lane – A Digital-First Carryout Option
Next Post: Candicci’s Restaurant – Easter Specials 2021

Related Posts

  • McDonald's - Quarterly Cash Dividend - $1.29
    McDonald’s – Quarterly Cash Dividend – $1.29 News
  • White Castle® - 100th Birthday Celebrations Continue
    White Castle® – 100th Birthday Celebrations Continue News
  • Wendy's Adds Richard H. Gomez to Board of Directors
    Wendy’s Adds Richard H. Gomez to Board of Directors News
  • Crown Candy Kitchen, St. Louis, MO
    Crown Candy Kitchen Added to St. Louis Restaurant Directory News
  • Hammerstone's Upcoming Live Music Schedule
    Hammerstone’s Upcoming Live Music Schedule News
  • Restaurant Industry Sales Struggle - Help from Government Needed Now
    Restaurant Industry Sales Struggle – Help from Government Needed Now News

More Related Articles

Chuck E. Cheese Celebrates Autism Awareness Month Chuck E. Cheese Celebrates Autism Awareness Month News
Investments Dedicated Exposure to Hotels - Restaurants Investments Dedicated Exposure to Hotels – Restaurants News
BigStock Subway Sign Subway – Menu Refresh – Gift Card Bonus Offer News

Video Gallery

Online Ordering – eOrderSTL

Online Restaurant Menu Distribution & Management

Featured Online Ordering

  1. Thai Kitchen – 4 Locations
  2. Candicci’s Restaurant – Ballwin
  3. Tradicional 314 – Creve Coeur

Information for Restaurants

eOrderSTL

Social Media & Syndication Partners

  • Google Business Page
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • FeedPublish
  • Blogarma
  • Flipboard

St. Louis Caterers

STL.Catering - Online Ordering for Catering
Find the best caterers in the St. Louis region.

Restaurant Digital Services

Restaurant Marketing Services

Restaurant Directory

St Louis Restaurant Review

St. Louis County Restaurant Health Inspections

St. Louis County Restaurant Health Inspections
St. Louis County Restaurant Health Inspections

Relevant Links

  1. St. Louis City Restaurant Inspections
  2. St. Louis County Restaurant Inspections
  3. St. Charles County Restaurant Inspections
  4. How to increase restaurant sales
  5. Submit Guest Post
  6. National Restaurant Association
  7. Missouri Restaurant Association

Categories

  • Entertainment
  • Guest Posts
  • News
  • Press Releases
  • Reviews
  • Uncategorized

Contact

STL.News, LLC
17005 Manchester Rd
Wildwood, Missouri 63040

Marty Smith – Editor in Chief
Email: Marty@STLMedia.Agency
Phone: +1 314-808-1870

Kevin Amant – Business Manager
Email: KAmant187@gmail.com
Phone: +1 314-803-8727

  • Top-10 Burger Restaurants in O'Fallon, Missouri
    Top-10 Burger Restaurants in O’Fallon, Missouri Reviews
  • Top-10 European Restaurants in St. Louis
    Top-10 European Restaurants in St. Louis Reviews
  • Broadway Oyster Bar, St Louis, MO
    Broadway Oyster Bar, St Louis, MO Reviews
  • Top-10 Fine Dining Restaurants in St. Louis
    Top-10 Fine Dining Restaurants in St. Louis Reviews
  • Urban Chestnut Brewery
    Urban Chestnut Brewing Company Reviews
  • Anthonino’s Taverna
    Anthonino’s Taverna Reviews
  • Top-10 Rated Cheap Eats in St. Louis, Missouri
    Top-10 Rated Cheap Eats in St. Louis, Missouri Reviews
  • Beer Sauce, Ballwin, MO
    Beer Sauce has opened a new location in Ballwin, Missouri Reviews

Contact

St. Louis Restaurant Review
17005 Manchester Rd
Wildwood, MO 63040

Phone: +1 314-808-1870
Email: Marty@STLMedia.Agency

Partners

  • STL.News
  • STL.Directory
  • WebTech Group
  • UltimateHost.Domains

Online Ordering

  • Place Orders
  • Offer Online Ordering at Your Restaurant
  • Other Restaurant Services
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2021 STL.News, LLC d.b.a. St. Louis Restaurant Review -

Powered by PressBook Premium theme