PAPA'S APOLOGY: Papa John's CAVES to NFL, Backs Player Protests

Pizza giant Papa John’s publicly apologized to the National Football League on Tuesday, saying their CEO and founder John Schnatter was out of line when he lashed-out at the NFL over player protests earlier this month, reports ABC News.

The Kentucky-based pizza chain made national headlines after Schnatter told shareholders during a conference call that professional athletes choosing to “take a knee” during the US national anthem was hurting the company’s bottom line, citing the bad press as the main reason behind a 10% drop in sales.

"The statements made on our earnings call were describing the factors that impact our business and we sincerely apologize to anyone that thought they were divisive," said a statement. "That definitely was not our intention.

"We believe in the right to protest inequality and support the players' movement to create a new platform for change. We also believe, as Americans, we should honor our anthem. There is a way to do both,” it added.

The NFL has been struggling to regain its footing following weeks of players choosing to “take a knee” during the performance of the US national anthem.

The ensuing controversy gained national attention when President Trump called for a total boycott of the NFL until officials and owners require players to stand during the ‘Star-Spangled Banner.’