Neo-Nazis and white supremacists name Papa John's official pizza of the alt-right

Memes showing swastikas made out of pepperoni and a KKK member praising Papa John's 'whiteness' were also posted.

NOVEMBER 5, 2017 14:32

Updated: NOVEMBER 6, 2017 11:56

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS outside linebacker Eli Harold (58), quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) and free safety Eric Reid (35) kneel in protest during the playing of the national anthem before a NFL game in Santa Clara, California. (photo credit: KIRBY LEE/USA TODAY/VIA REUTERS) — SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS outside linebacker Eli Harold (58), quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) and free safety Eric Reid (35) kneel in protest during the playing of the national anthem before a NFL game in Santa Clara, California.

(photo credit: KIRBY LEE/USA TODAY/VIA REUTERS)

While pizza fans around the world debate whether or not pineapple is a legitimate topping, neo-Nazis and white supremacists are adding their own flavor to the mix: hatred.

The Daily Stormer, a neo-Nazi website whose name is an homage to the Nazi newspaper Der Sturmer, declared Papa John's the official pizza of the alt-right, following comments made by the popular US pizza chain's CEO.

Papa John's, an official NFL sponsor, was widely criticized on social media after CEO John Schnatter blamed the company's lackluster third-quarter earnings in part on the NFL's bad leadership which has allowed players to sit out or kneel during the US national anthem in protest against police brutality.

"This should have been nipped in the bud a year and a half ago," Schnatter said, referring to the protests. "The controversy is polarizing the customer, polarizing the country."

Even though Schnatter never mentioned race, his comments earned Papa John's some new fans on the alt-right.

Papa John’s: NFL anthem protests are hurting pizza sales https://t.co/cus7XSZf4T pic.twitter.com/GTMwc1e933
— McSpocky™ (@mcspocky) November 2, 2017

"It’s starting to make economic sense to be pro-White, even for these k*ked, evil corporations," the Daily Stormer wrote, using a derogatory term for Jews.

Memes showing swastikas made out of pepperoni and a KKK member praising Papa John's 'whiteness' were also posted by the neo-Nazi site and others on social media.

This shows #WhiteSupremacists have always been distasteful.The #DailyStormer announced #PapaJohns is the #official #pizza of the #AltRight pic.twitter.com/wsyXna554a
— Peeps (@kevindpeeples) November 4, 2017

Peter Collins, Papa John's senior director for public relations, told the Huffington Post in response: “We condemn racism in all forms and any and all hate groups that support it. We do not want these individuals or groups to buy our pizza.”

Colin Kaepernick, a former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, started taking a knee during the anthem as a protest against police brutality predominantly affecting the African-American community. Other NFL players followed suit, outraging some viewers and public figures, including US President Donald Trump.