Papa John’s delivery man fired for racist rant, CEO apologizes

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A Florida Papa John’s delivery man was recently fired after he accidentally called and left a customer a voicemail message, which eventually went viral, filled with racist remarks.

The worker had just left the customer’s home and inadvertently dialed their number again — but this time, it recorded his ongoing rant filled with hate speech.

In a video the customer published on YouTube, he shows the receipt and the $5 tip he gave the worker, which he says also equated to 21 percent of the bill.

But the worker’s expectations seemed to have differed, according to the conversation he had with another Papa John’s employee.

“I guess that’s the only requirement for being a ni**er in Sanford,” the worker was caught saying in the call.

Sanford is also the city where 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed.

“Yeah, they give me five bucks there — fine outstanding African-American gentleman of the community,” he added. The now fired Papa John’s employee proceeded to use the n-word repeatedly, even setting it to the tune of “Figaro’s Aria.”

In response to the news, Papa John’s Chairman and CEO John Schnatter issued a public apology via the company’s Facebook page. In the note, he writes:

Friends, I am extremely concerned to learn about the reprehensible language used by two former employees in one of our restaurants. Their thinking and actions defy both my personal and the company’s values, and everything for which this company stands. The employees responsible for this absolutely unacceptable behavior were immediately terminated.

My heartfelt apology goes out to the customer involved, his family, and our community at large. I am very sorry that anyone would be exposed to these hurtful and painful words by any person involved in any way with our company.

Thank you for your important comments. I have personally reached out to our customer to share my own thoughts and offer my deepest apology.

Sincerely,

John Schnatter
Chairman and CEO
Papa John’s

Follow Lilly Workneh @Lilly_Works