Papa John's says founder John Schnatter has resigned as chairman of the board. The company made the announcement late Wednesday, hours after Schnatter apologized for using a racial slur during a conference call in May, the AP reports. The apology came after Forbes cited an anonymous source saying the pizza chain's marketing firm broke ties with the company afterward. Forbes said Schnatter used the N-word during a media training exercise. When asked how he would distance himself from racist groups, Schnatter reportedly complained that Colonel Sanders never faced a backlash for using the word. Schnatter stepped down as CEO last year, but remained chairman after blaming slowing sales growth on the outcry surrounding football players kneeling during the national anthem. (More Papa John's stories.)