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Shaq joins Papa John’s board after spokesman resigns for racial slur

Posted at 6:44 PM, Mar 22, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-22 19:49:38-04

Following a tough year for Papa Johns in light of scandals, Shaq became an Ambassador and Board Member for Papa John’s Pizza Chain’s.

Announced today, Papa John’s is hoping Shaq’s entrepreneurship and marketing abilities can help the business recover after long-time spokesman John Schnatter resigned from the company for using the N-word during a company conference call and blaming the companies financial struggles on Colin Kaepernick’s NFL protests.

“Pizza is fun,” Shaq said on “Squawk on the Street”, “Everyone knows Shaquille O’Neal, they know I’m in the fun business, and we want to get this thing back on track.”

According to MoneyInc, Shaquiile O’ Neal is no joke in the restaurant and marketing world. After playing in the NBA for about 19 years, Shaq invested his earnings to own Five Guys franchises, Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Stands, and he makes over $20 million a year he makes from endorsing for AriZona beverages, Fruity Pebbles, Muscle Milk, Vitamin Water, and others.

“Shaquille has an excellent entrepreneurial background, including as a restaurant franchise owner, and is a natural creative marketer,” chairman Jeff Smith of Papa John’s board of directors told CNN.

According to CNN Business, after the announcement, Papa John’s stock saw an increase of about 5 percent.

“I worry about the 800 franchises, because they did nothing wrong,” Shaq told CNBC. “They’re your neighbor, they’re my neighbors, they’re regular people that do the right thing. They were very affected.”