The founder of the pizza chain Papa John's is resigning as chairman of the board after he confirmed Wednesday that he used a racial slur during a conference call this past May.
John Schnatter, 56, is most recognizable as the voice and face of Papa John's television commercials. Schnatter issued an apology for using the "N-word"
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He reportedly said the racial slur while complaining that Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken got away with saying it.
The call was part of a PR roleplaying exercise, which arose from an earlier controversy when Schnatter blamed a drop in pizza sales on the NFL's handling of protests during the national anthem.
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He stepped down as CEO two months later, but remained chairman until his resignation from that post was announced Wednesday.
The company said the board will appoint a new chairman in coming weeks.