Has Papa John's Become The Villain Of Pizza?

Oh, Papa John's. First you offer to hand-deliver us a copy of Taylor Swift's new album Red if we order a large, one-topping pie for $22. Then you tempt us with Peyton Manning promising 2 million free pizzas. You've got an irresistible country singer and hall of fame quarterback in your corner. All should be well, right? Wrong. Oh, so wrong.

In August, CEO ("Papa") John Schnatter announced that he would raise pizza prices by up to 20 cents in response to Obamacare — a result of the company having to provide health coverage to its employees. Earlier this week, Schnatter said that his employees may face reduced hours. "That's probably what's going to happen. It's common sense. That's what I call lose-lose," the vocal Romney supporter quipped.

It appears that a presumed disregard for the working class is not Papa John's only crime, either. Yesterday, CNN Money reported that the pizza chain faces a $250 million class-action lawsuit for blasting customers with illegal text messages. The lawsuit alleges that Papa John's franchises sent customers a total of 500,000 unwanted messages in 2010, up to 16 in a row, offering deals on pizza. Was that Spam on your pizza, sir?

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