Hit The Road Jack! Papa John’s CEO John Schnatter OUT After Slamming NFL Protests

Papa gonna have to find a brand new job!

Two months after getting roasted for saying that the NFL protests were to blame for a dip in sales, Papa John’s Founder John Schnatter is resigning as the company's CEO. 

CBS News reported that on Thursday the company announced that Schnatter remains a chairman, but will be replaced as chief executive on Jan. 1 by their current Chief Operating Officer Steve Ritchie. 

While the company isn't saying why Schnatter is stepping down, it's safe to say that his big mouth probably played a factor.

The 56-year-old was in his company's doghouse the second news hit that he told their board that their slow sales were due to NFL players kneeling during the National Anthem. Remember: Papa John's is the official pizza of the NFL. 

"NFL leadership has hurt Papa John's shareholders," he said in a conference call with analysts in November. "This should have been nipped in the bud a year and a half ago."

(Looks like his own company nipped him in the bud. #Irony)

Soon after, the company took to Twitter to try to smooth things over, vowing to work with NFL players on social justice issues. That, and they denounced the neo-Nazi website the Daily Stormer that gave Papa John’s the title of official pizza of the alt-right.

“The statements made on our earnings call were describing the factors that impact our business and we sincerely apologize to anyone that thought they were divisive. That definitely was not our intention," Papa John's wrote.

"We believe in the right to protest inequality and support the players' movement to create a new platform for change. We also believe together, as Americans, we should honor our anthem. There is a way to do both."

Listen...we all know that Papa John's sales are dropping, but perhaps that was a result of the company's stocks dipping 13 percent and fierce competition. 

Just saying.

Either way, NONE OF THAT IS BLACK PEOPLE'S FAULT! 

FAM: What do you think of Papa John's pizza CEO stepping down for his protest comments? Weigh in...