When former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeled during the Nation Anthem last season, he maintained that he wanted to bring to light injustices faced by African Americans. While the quarterback has yet to receive a roster spot this year, the impact of his peaceful protest has shaken the NFL.
Many players have taken up the cause started by Kap; however, the simple gesture of kneeling has gained the wrath of many who feel the protest is disrespectful. President Trump has continuously bashed the league and even called for fans to boycott.
On Wednesday, Papa John’s founder and CEO John Schnatter during an earnings call said the company had a slump in sales, due in part to the NFL protests. “The NFL has been a long and valued partner over the years, but we are certainly disappointed that NFL and its leadership did not resolve the ongoing situation to the satisfaction of all parties," Schnatter said. He added that the NFL "should have been nipped in the bud a year and a half ago."
Following reports of the comments, ESPN host Jemele Hill called out the pizza restaurant boss. Hill, who recently came under fire for calling President Trump a white supremacist, tweeted, "Sorry racial injustice couldn’t be ended as easily as adding an extra topping and a side of ranch."
Check out the tweet above.
