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Shaquille Rashaun O&rsquo;Neal&mdash;what&rsquo;s not to love? The legendary basketball player and Kazaam star <a href="https://1851franchise.com/papa-john-s-announces-its-newest-board-member-shaq-2709489" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">announced this March</a> that he would be the new face of Papa John&rsquo;s, <a href="https://twitter.com/SHAQ/status/1109086146825519104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1109086146825519104&amp%3Bref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthetakeout.com%2Fajax%2Finset%2Fiframe%3Fid%3Dtwitter-1109086146825519104%26autosize%3D1&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=can-shaq-really-save-the-still-struggling-papa-johns-2710673" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">tweeting</a>, &ldquo;Time for a pizza party!&rdquo; After an <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/01/papa-johns-founder-john-schnatter-testifies-in-lawsuit-against-board.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=can-shaq-really-save-the-still-struggling-papa-johns-2710673" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">incredibly rough 2018</a>, and an <a href="https://www.nrn.com/quick-service/still-struggling-papa-john-s-leans-shaquille-o-neal-partnership?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=can-shaq-really-save-the-still-struggling-papa-johns-2710673" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">equally negative</a> first half of 2019, it appeared Papa John&rsquo;s was looking to lighten the mood a bit. Now, after <a href="https://1851franchise.com/papa-john-s-releases-more-details-of-larger-than-life-brand-partnership-with-shaquille-o-neal-2710262" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">nearly five months</a>, Shaq has finally shown a product of the viral partnership: The Papadia.

In a hilarious new <a href="https://twitter.com/SHAQ/status/1157307319472087040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1157307319472087040&amp%3Bref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthetakeout.com%2Fajax%2Finset%2Fiframe%3Fid%3Dtwitter-1157307319472087040%26autosize%3D1&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=can-shaq-really-save-the-still-struggling-papa-johns-2710673" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Twitter video</a>, Shaq pretends to reveal some &ldquo;secret&rdquo; information by filming in the Papa John&rsquo;s board room. &ldquo;Shh, this is new stuff that Papa John&rsquo;s coming out with,&rdquo; he teases. &ldquo;The board members don&rsquo;t know I got my phone, about to taste-test some new food that&rsquo;s not even out yet. Coming soon.&rdquo;

The only problem with Shaq&rsquo;s video is that it is hard to get a good look at &ldquo;The Papadia,&rdquo; with some Twitter users asking, &ldquo;Is it a calzone or a pizza folded in half?&rdquo;&nbsp;

Still, the $5 Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal-inspired item seems to be creating some <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/papa-johns-ceo-here-comes-4-pizzas-and-one-new-shaquille-o-nealinspired-offering-230243252.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=can-shaq-really-save-the-still-struggling-papa-johns-2710673" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">optimistic buzz</a>, which is exactly what Papa John&rsquo;s needs. With 35 North American restaurants closed in Q1, and a <a href="https://www.nrn.com/quick-service/still-struggling-papa-john-s-leans-shaquille-o-neal-partnership?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=can-shaq-really-save-the-still-struggling-papa-johns-2710673" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">5.3% same-store decrease in Q2</a>, Papa John&rsquo;s has committed to a massive, <a href="https://www.qsrmagazine.com/finance/papa-johns-unleash-40m-marketing-blitz?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=can-shaq-really-save-the-still-struggling-papa-johns-2710673" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">$40 million marketing campaign</a> in order to turn the public perception around.

Of course, <a href="https://www.qsrmagazine.com/fast-casual/fame-and-fast-casuals-how-celebrities-fit-restaurant-world?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=can-shaq-really-save-the-still-struggling-papa-johns-2710673" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">celebrity endorsements are nothing new</a> in the fast-food segment, but is Papa John&rsquo;s relying too heavily on the <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/reactiongifs/comments/1jqrk0/mfw_my_favorite_song_comes_on_at_a_party/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=can-shaq-really-save-the-still-struggling-papa-johns-2710673" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">undeniable charisma</a> of Shaq? Only time will tell.

Image used across media outlets.

Can Shaq Really Save the Still-Struggling Papa John’s?

1851 Franchise

The larger-than-life star teases a new product for the first time since joining the pizza brand.


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