Two days after Papa John's founder John Schnatter admitted to using a racially charged slur during a May conference call, the company's CEO Steve Ritchie said racism and insensitive language will not be tolerated and the company will embark on an audit of its corporate policies.

"Papa John’s is not an individual," Ritchie said in the statement Friday. "Papa John’s is a pizza company with 120,000 corporate and franchise team members around the world. Our employees represent all walks of life, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace for all. Racism and any insensitive language, no matter what the context simply cannot — and will not — be tolerated at any level of our company."

Papa John's as a brand has suffered backlash after Schnatter's comments became public. Major League Baseball indefinitely suspended its Papa Slam promotion — a campaign that both sides have collaborated on since 2016 and a number of sports teams have distanced themselves from the brand.