Papa John's Scores Shaq To Help Revive Its Image
(AP) — Papa John's has a new pitchman: Shaquille O'Neal.
The chain says basketball Hall of Famer will appear on TV commercials and promote Papa John's in other ways. He will also join the company's board of directors and invest in nine of its restaurants in the Atlanta area.
Papa John's is trying to revive its image after the company's founder and namesake, John Schnatter, was reported to have used a racial slur during a media training session.
Schnatter, who was the face of the company, has apologized for the slur and the company scrubbed his face from the company's logo and advertisements last year. Schnatter is still the Louisville, Kentucky-based company's biggest shareholder.
You know @SHAQ as a Hall of Famer, sports commentator and entrepreneur. Today, we're adding "Papa John's board member and investor in Atlanta stores" to his long list of pursuits. His business savvy and passion for our pizza make him a great fit.
— Papa Johns Pizza (@PapaJohns) March 22, 2019
Papa John's International Inc. says it will pay O'Neal more than $8 million in cash and company stock for a three-year endorsement deal.
Wall Street seems to think it's a winning partnership. Shares of Papa John's soared more than 4 percent Friday.
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