Papa John’s, a chain restaurant that makes arguably awful pizza yet still boasts over 5,000 locations worldwide, saw its stock price drop by 11% this week, wherein CEO and founder John “Papa John” Schnatter saw his net worth tumble by $70 million. (Do not weep for Schnatter; Forbes still pegs his personal balance sheet at around $801 million.)
To calm the frazzled nerves of investors, Schnatter and COO Steve Ritchie hopped on a conference call to bravely announce that the lower-than-expected earnings were someone else’s fault: NFL players protesting state-sanctioned violence and systemic racism.
Papa John’s, which renewed its sponsorship agreement with the league on Aug. 4, thus retaining the company’s status as the “Official Pizza Sponsor of the NFL and Super Bowl,” is miffed that the NFL didn’t rewrite the rules in order to bar players from doing anything but standing and saluting during the national anthem. Papa John’s contends that players’ protests have made pizza-hungry, patriotic fans across the country less likely to purchase pizza.
“The NFL has hurt us,” Schnatter said during Wednesday’s call. “We are disappointed the NFL and its leadership did not resolve this.” Schnatter added that the failure to clamp down on political activity showed a lack of “leadership” on the NFL’s part and “should have been nipped in the bud a year and a half ago,” presumably when Colin Kaepernick first began protesting.
It is true that NFL broadcast ratings are down this year. Moreover, Papa John’s does advertise heavily during games and has sponsorship agreements with 23 teams. That said, how exactly has Papa John’s determined that the decrease in viewers has directly led to a decline in sales? They won’t say, and per ESPN, “Company executives declined to disclose exactly how much money in projected sales Papa John’s lost from its association with the NFL.”
That’s certainly the kind of information you’d think a COO would come armed with if it were going to point the finger at a corporate partner. After all, they’re saying outright that the NFL needs to crack down on protests in order to bolster their bottom line. Further, the decline in Papa John’s earnings doesn’t seem to have a one-to-one relationship to NFL protests, as ESPN’s Bill Barnwell handily pointed out on Twitter:
None of Schnatter’s logic seems to add up. Chain restaurants overall are seeing lower sales numbers, and all televised sports are garnering fewer eyeballs, largely because of cord-cutting.
In February, Ritchie complained that the 8% drop in NFL ratings for the 2016 season was causing Papa John’s sales to flag, though he then pegged it as having only “played a small factor in some of our performance,” and didn’t cite protests at all.
This appears to be just like when Schnatter tried to falsely and preemptively blame Obamacare for lost revenue and threatened to increase prices. Papa John’s is grandstanding about its CEO’s pet political cause, hoping it will deflect attention away from a subpar earnings report and equally subpar pizza.
Considering what should have been a mundane conference call is already being drowned out by ridiculous partisan noise-making, in that respect, Schnatter has already succeeded.
Wiman hiding her face behind a bunch of cashCanva
A mansion and its reflection in the swimming poolCanva
Salzburg at nightCanva
Fancy homeCanva
Happy volunteersCanva
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.