Company’s founder creates ‘Save Papa John’s’ website to battle board of directors

John Schnatter, the founder of Papa John’s Pizza, has launched a new website to communicate with customers and employees directly and aid his fight against the company’s board of directors.

Schnatter, who resigned earlier this year for using a racial slur during a media training conference call, started SavePapaJohns.com to counter what he calls an effort from the directors to “silence me.”

“Papa John’s is our life’s work and we will all get through this together somehow, some way,” Schnatter wrote in a message to employees.

{mosads}

“I can only imagine how difficult this entire situation is on you, and I’m very sorry you all have to go through this,” he continued. “Know that in every minute of every day you are all in my thoughts and prayers.”

The website includes legal documents related to Schnatter’s ongoing dispute with the company over his dismissal.

CNBC reported Wednesday that Schnatter also took out a full-page advertisement in the Louisville Courier-Journal to tell employees that he misses them.

Schnatter previously stepped down as the company’s CEO last year in the face of criticism for saying that NFL players’ protests had affected the pizza chain’s sales. The company was a corporate sponsor of the league.

He remained as chairman of the board until last month, when he resigned over his use of the N-word on a conference call. Schnatter filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging it mishandled his dismissal.