The Washington Nationals suspended their relationship with Papa John’s Friday after the pizza company’s founder, John Schnatter, admitted to using the n-word during a May conference call.
Other MLB teams, like the Miami Marlins and New York Yankees, have also dropped the pizza chain.
Schnatter resigned from the company Wednesday, and Papa John’s announced Friday they would no longer use Schnatter’s image in promotional materials.
“The Washington Nationals do not condone discrimination of any kind,” the Nationals said in a statement. “Therefore, we have suspended our partnership with Papa John’s. However, we remain supportive of our local operators who have been fantastic partners for more than eleven years.”
The University of Louisville also said Friday they will rename the team’s football stadium — currently Papa John’s Arena — and the John H. Schnatter Center for Free Enterprise at its business school.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.