The Papa John's 'Day of Reckoning' meme originated from a November 2019 interview with John Schnatter, the ousted founder of Papa John's pizza. During the interview with WDRB News, Schnatter appeared visibly sweaty and disheveled, claiming he had consumed over 40 pizzas in the previous 30 days and ominously warning that a 'day of reckoning' was coming for the company's new leadership. The internet immediately seized on his intense demeanor and the sheer volume of pizza consumed, turning the clip into a viral sensation. Today, the meme is used to describe feelings of overindulgence, dramatic personal transformations, or to jokingly forecast a vague, impending disaster.