John Schnatter of Papa John denies being racist

Papa John's founder, John Schnatter, rejects suggestions that he is racist, claiming that the media misinterpreted his use of an insult to blacks.

In a July 14 letter to members of the chain committee, Schnatter denied using the word "N" in a deliberately derogatory manner during a diversity training session held on May 22 with Laundry Service , a marketing firm used by Papa John's

. topics, one asked me if I was racist, "said Schnatter in the letter." I have, of course, said no – what is a truthful statement like those of 's. between you who know me well will attest and of course, if you feel the opposite, you would not be sitting on Papa John's board.

Very clearly: I have never used the word "No-mote in this meeting as a racial epithet, I would never have," he adds.

Schnatter also stated that he was rejecting the Laundry Service's proposal that Papa John hire Kanye West to advertise. because of the use of the word "N" by the music star in his lyrics.

Schnatter resigned as president from the restaurant chain last week after making a public apology for his use of slur. In his letter, he now says that it was a "mistake" to give up his role in the business, and hired a lawyer to launder "his good name."

The council asked for his resignation "without seeming to investigate." I agree, even though today I think it was a mistake to do so, "wrote Schnatter," I will not allow either my good name or the name of the company I founded and would like to be unjustly tainted. "

Schnatter, He resigned from his position as CEO in December after criticizing the National Football League (19459006) to be kneeling during the national anthem, accusing the protests of slowing the growth of Daddy's sales. John's, then sponsor and announcer of the NFL

Still a member of the board of directors, Schnatter owned 29% of Papa John's stock, according to regulatory filings, which currently stood at $ 500 million of dollars.

Schnatter to Patricia Glaser, Los Angeles District Attorney, sent another letter to the council asking him to create a special committee to examine the facts.

A representative of Schnatter refused to say he was considering legal action. But in his letter, Glaser suggested that individual members of the board of directors could be held accountable if they do not conduct an independent investigation into the incident that led to the ouster of Schnatter as president.

Papa John's, who started scratching Schnatter's image of his marketing materials and says that he evaluates all links with Schnatter, has not responded to a request for comment. The company said over the weekend that she "specifically asked Mr. Schnatter to stop all appearances in the media, and not make any other statements to the media regarding the company, its business. or his employees. "

In last week's report, Forbes stated that Schnatter used the word N during a media training session in May, and that the incident led the Laundry Service marketing firm to break ties with Papa John. Schnatter said in the letter to the board that the agency asked for a higher payment than had been agreed. The marketing firm did not respond to requests for comment

In Saturday's letter, Schnatter said the incident was also mismanaged by the company's executives. a public relations viewpoint "and that what he said was not racist

The Associated Press contributed to this report.