Papa John’s Drivers Leave Racist Voicemail, CEO Apologizes [Video]
Sanford, FL – Two Papa John’s delivery drivers have been fired after a racist voicemail started making the rounds online.
The problem apparently began after one of the drivers felt he wasn’t tipped well enough during a recent delivery. After dropping off the pizza, he accidentally butt dialed the customer. When the man didn’t pick up, the call eventually went to his voicemail.
The Papa John’s employee can be heard making very cruel and nasty remarks about the customer before launching into a song using a particularly vile racial slur. According to 13 News, the offended customer uploaded a clip of the racist voicemail to YouTube. It didn’t take long for the clip to go viral.
“They give me five bucks there. Fine outstanding African gentleman of the community,” the driver can be heard saying at one point during the accidental call. “I guess that’s the only requirement for being a n***** in Sanford.”
ABC News reports that both drivers have since been fired by the company. News of the voicemail soon found its way to Papa John’s CEO and chairman John Schnatter. He apologized to anyone who was offended by the comments made by two of his employees.
Schnatter explained:
“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.”
The YouTube clip containing the horrible comments is embedded below. The video does contain some very nasty language, so viewer discretion is strongly advised.
Although several news organizations have reached out to Papa John’s for comment, the company hasn’t said anything else regarding the racist voicemail.
