Papa John’s has been forced to apologise after Brits received leaflets advertising the brand’s ill-timed ‘Pizza in the Park’ initiative.
The American pizza empire sent out their latest offer, encouraging groups of people in the UK to have pizzas delivered to enjoy in parks as part of their buy one free initiative.
However as the country enters its eighth week of lockdown, the latest guidelines only allow for two people from different households to enjoy a social distancing walk – not a picnic.
As of yesterday, the UK counts 240,000 confirmed cases of the disease, and 34,466 deaths.
The leaflets, which read ‘pizza in the park? No probs,’ angered dutiful Britons who had been observing social distancing rules, as it showed a group of four people hugging, The Sun reported.
Femail has contacted Papa John’s for comment.
Brits were bewildered when they sorted their mail, finding flyers from the pizza empire offering to deliver pizzas in UK parks as the country enters its eighth week of lockdown.
A spokesperson for Papa John’s said the brand apologised ‘unreservedly’ and explained the leaflet had been put up for distribution before the coronavirus pandemic escalated, prompting a national lockdown.
They told The Sun on Sunday: ‘We apologise unreservedly for our leaflet. It was put into distribution before all our lives changed so suddenly.
‘We can assure your readers that anyone following the link in the leaflet finds a clear message that the service has been suspended.
‘Meanwhile, we remain committed to delivering safe, high-quality food directly to customer’s homes.’
The pizza brand said it ‘apologised unreservedly’ for the blunder, and explained the leaflet had been put up for distribution before the coronavirus pandemic escalated
The brand said that their website has been observing social distancing guidelines, by offering contact-free deliveries only across the UK and refusing cash payments.
They explained that the delivering to specific locations service had been suspended, and that the brand’s drivers were only delivering to people’s homes.
This comes days after Papa John’s CEO John Schnatter showed off his helicopter and $11million mansion in a series of TikTok videos.
Since April 22, Schnatter has been sharing a glimpse at his life of luxury online, despite resigning in 2018 from the pizza chain after using the N-word during a media training call.
This comes days after Papa John’s CEO John Schnatter showed off his helicopter and $11million mansion in a series of TikTok videos, including this bizarre statue of two eagles mating, which doubles as a clock
In one of his first videos, Schnatter, who has a net worth of $1billion, is seen driving his 1971 Camaro Z28.
Another clip shows him walking toward a chopper with the caption: ‘Did you know I have my own helicopter?’
In one of his most recent videos, Schnatter is seen showing off his massive, $11million Kentucky mansion.
Elsewhere he shares his plush mansion’s entrance hall, complete with a huge statue of two eagles mating.
Schnatter says the bizarre sculpture also functions as a clock.
In one of his most recent videos, Schnatter is seen showing off his massive, $11million Kentucky mansion
The former CEO of Papa John’s opened the door to his house. He stepped down from his position in 2017
The property, which sits on the edge of a lake, also features ornate carved wooden doors and mosaic floors.
A fourth video compilation, shows Schnatter advertising three t-shirts. One shirt reads, ‘Papa Bless,’ the second says, ‘Papa’ and the third has ‘Papa The Day of Reckoning’ written across it.
All three shirts are being sold for $35 each on the website GiveBackWithPapa.com with the proceeds going to COVID-19 relief efforts, according to Schnatter.
Schnatter stepped down as the company’s chief executive in December 2017, after drawing criticism for blaming disappointing sales on the NFL’s handling of player protests during the national anthem.