Dec 21, 2017

Papa John’s founder to step down as CEO after NFL comments

Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Papa John's founder John Schnatter will step down as CEO in January, about two months after he criticized the NFL leadership over their players’ national anthem protests, the AP reports.

Why it matters: Papa John's is a sponsor and advertiser of the NFL. Earlier this year, Schnatter blamed slow earnings on players kneeling during the national anthem, a gesture that upset some fans.

Papa John's later apologized, after white nationalists praised Schnatter's remarks.

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick first kneeled during the national anthem to bring attention to police mistreatment of black men. Other players then started doing the gesture in subsequent games.

What's next: He will be replaced as chief executive by Chief Operating Officer Steve Ritchie on Jan. 1. Schnatter, who is the company's biggest shareholder, remains chairman of the board, per the AP. Ritchie declined to say if the controversial comments played a role in Schnatter stepping down, per the AP.

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Global: Total confirmed cases as of 8 a.m. ET: 679,977 — Total deaths: 31,734 — Total recoveries: 145,625.
U.S.: Leads the world in cases. Total confirmed cases as of 8 a.m. ET: 124,686 — Total deaths: 2,191 — Total recoveries: 2,612.
Federal government latest: Trump announces new travel advisories for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, but rules out quarantine enforcement. Per CDC, those residents should "refrain from non-essential domestic travel for 14 days," with the exception of critical infrastructure industry workers.
State updates: Alaska issues a stay-at-home order — New York tries to nearly triple hospital capacity in less than a month and moved presidential primary to June 23. Some Midwestern swing voters who backed Trump's initial handling of the virus balk at call for U.S. to be "opened up" by Easter.
World updates: In Spain, over 1,400 people were confirmed dead between Thursday to Saturday.
🚀 Space updates: OneWeb filed for bankruptcy amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
What should I do? Answers about the virus from Axios experts — What to know about social distancing — Q&A: Minimizing your coronavirus risk
Other resources: CDC on how to avoid the virus, what to do if you get it.

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