UofL reconciles with Papa John's founder Schnatter after 2018 rift

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Louisville announced Thursday that it is reconciling with Papa John's founder John Schnatter, reversing course eight years after the university severed ties with him following his use of a racial slur.

UofL President Gerry Bradley said university administrators recently met with Schnatter and "learned a lot of facts and details regarding the circumstances that regrettably led to UofL parting ways with John in 2018," according to a statement from the Kentucky Lantern.

Bradley said the university would have "approached the situation differently based on our current understanding" of events surrounding Schnatter's departure. The reconciliation aligns with Bradley's adopted theme for his presidency, "Forward Together," which emphasizes unity and progress.

Schnatter resigned as chairman of Papa John's board in 2018 after using a racial slur during a May conference call with marketing executives. The call was intended as a media training exercise to help Schnatter avoid future public relations missteps.

The controversy followed an earlier controversy when Schnatter stepped down as CEO in January 2018 over remarks criticizing the NFL's response to player protests during the national anthem.

In 2018, UofL removed "Papa John's" from the name of its football stadium. Schnatter had previously contributed to creation of the facility and the John H. Schnatter Center for Free Enterprise. L&N Federal Credit Union now holds the stadium's naming rights.

The Louisville NAACP called for Schnatter's removal from UofL's Board of Trustees in 2018, and he resigned from that position. Recent meetings with Schnatter "have revealed a desire to re-engage with the university, an appreciation of UofL's recently adopted five-year strategic plan and an alignment with Bradley's stated vision for UofL," according to the university statement.

Schnatter responded with gratitude for the reconciliation, citing his ties to the university and his support for initiatives including the Brandeis School of Law's Mary Byron Center. "I look forward to once again supporting the University's mission and creating meaningful opportunities for Card Nation," he said in a statement.

The university did not specify what re-engagement with Schnatter will entail or involve.