Shane Dawson's Adventure At Chuck E. Cheese

In 2019, YouTuber Shane Dawson shared a conspiracy theory about Chuck E. Cheese's pizza. Dawson alleged that the company recycles uneaten pizza slices from customers and uses them to create new pizzas. In a video, Dawson and his friends ordered pizzas from Chuck E. Cheese and received pizzas with slices of different sizes, which they claimed proved the theory. Chuck E. Cheese responded to the theory, stating that it was “unequivocally false and that their pizzas are made to order with fresh dough, which may result in uneven slices. The theory has been widely discussed on social media and by other YouTubers, but no evidence has been found to support it.

Shane Dawson's Chuck E. Cheese pizza conspiracy theory

In 2019, YouTuber Shane Dawson popularised a conspiracy theory about Chuck E. Cheese's pizza. In a video titled "Investigating Conspiracies with Shane Dawson", Dawson and his friends discuss the theory that Chuck E. Cheese employees take leftover pizza slices, reheat them, and serve them to new customers as fresh pizzas. Dawson and his friends then go to a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant and order several pizzas. They notice that the pizzas are misshapen, with the crust misaligned and failing to form a perfect circle. They also point out the jagged crust and misaligned pepperonis.

Dawson claims that the pizza looks like it was not made as one pie but thrown together in pieces. He tries to line up the pizza slices to form a perfect circle and questions why a piece seems to be missing. He also attempts to use a rocker blade to line up with the pizza slices' proportions, but it doesn't match up.

The conspiracy theory blew up on social media, with many users taking it as fact and demanding an explanation from Chuck E. Cheese. The franchise was forced to respond, releasing an official statement to several news outlets:

> "The claims made in this video about Chuck E. Cheese's and our pizza are unequivocally false. No conspiracies here—our pizzas are made to order, and we prepare our dough fresh in our restaurant, which means that they’re not always perfectly uniform in shape, but always delicious."

They also explained that the uneven slices are due to their "special curved blade" used for cutting the pizzas. Additionally, they stated that any uneaten pizza that is not taken home by customers is thrown away.

Despite Chuck E. Cheese's denial and explanations, some people remain suspicious of their pizza-making practices. However, it is important to note that Dawson's theory has several flaws, and there are other possible reasons for a pizza's uneven crust.

Dawson's claim that Chuck E. Cheese recycles pizza slices

In 2019, YouTuber Shane Dawson, who has 20 million subscribers, released a video titled "Investigating Conspiracies with Shane Dawson". In the video, Dawson explored the conspiracy theory that Chuck E. Cheese "recycles" leftover pizza slices. According to Dawson, the pizza chain takes unfinished pizza slices, reheats them, and serves them to other customers. The theory gained traction as many customers reported receiving pizzas with slices of different sizes and cuts that did not line up. This led to speculation that Chuck E. Cheese employees were combining leftover slices to form a new pizza.

Chuck E. Cheese has vehemently denied these claims, stating that their pizzas are "made to order" and that the dough is prepared fresh in the restaurant, resulting in slight variations in shape. They emphasized that their pizzas are always delicious, regardless of their appearance. Trisha York, a senior manager at a Knoxville Chuck E. Cheese's, reinforced this, stating that in her 10 years at the company, they have never recycled pizzas.

Despite these denials, the conspiracy theory has persisted, with some people expressing disbelief in Chuck E. Cheese's explanations. The theory has sparked debates on social media, with Twitter users uploading photos of misshapen pizzas from the chain. However, it's important to note that no lawsuits have been filed against Chuck E. Cheese regarding recycled pizza as of 2025.

The controversy surrounding Chuck E. Cheese's pizza practices has led to increased scrutiny of the company's food handling and raised questions about their pizza-making process. While some former employees have denied the theory, others have offered alternative explanations for the uneven slices, such as rushed cutting or combining cheese and pepperoni pies during busy periods.

The persistence of the theory and the ongoing discussions highlight the impact of social media and influencers like Shane Dawson in shaping public perception and starting conversations about food safety and transparency in the restaurant industry.

Chuck E. Cheese's official statement refuting the theory

"The claims made in this video about Chuck E. Cheese's and our pizza are unequivocally false," a spokesperson told People. "No conspiracies here – our pizzas are made to order and we prepare our dough fresh in the restaurant, which means that they're not always perfectly uniform in shape, but always delicious."

The statement continued, "It is disappointing that Shane Dawson and others have chosen to spread false information about our company. We take the quality and safety of our food very seriously, and our pizzas are made with the freshest, highest-quality ingredients. We do not recycle or reuse uneaten pizza slices in any way. This theory is completely baseless and has caused unnecessary concern among our customers."

"We invite Shane Dawson and his followers to visit our restaurants and see the pizza-making process for themselves. We are proud of our food and our commitment to providing a safe and enjoyable experience for families. We welcome the opportunity to address any concerns or misconceptions directly and set the record straight."

In addition to refuting the theory, Chuck E. Cheese's also addressed the potential health risks associated with recycling pizza slices. "We follow strict food safety guidelines and have multiple checks in place to ensure the freshness and quality of our food," the statement continued. "The idea that we would compromise the health and safety of our customers by reusing old pizza slices is simply absurd and goes against everything we stand for as a company."

The company also provided additional context for the variations in slice size, explaining that the dough preparation and baking process can lead to slight inconsistencies in the shape and size of the pizzas. "Our dough is prepared fresh in each restaurant, and the hand-tossing and stretching process can result in slight variations in the shape and thickness of the crust," the statement read. "Additionally, our ovens have rotating decks, which can cause the pizzas to shift and rotate during baking, further contributing to the unique shape of each pie."

The popularity of the conspiracy theory

YouTuber Shane Dawson's conspiracy theory about Chuck E. Cheese's pizza gained immense popularity in 2019, when he posted a video titled "Investigating Conspiracies with Shane Dawson". The video, which amassed 14 million views in two days, discussed the theory that Chuck E. Cheese recycles uneaten pizza slices from customers to create new pizzas. Dawson and his friends provided "evidence" by ordering pizzas at the restaurant, which arrived misshapen and with crusts that did not align.

The theory gained so much traction that Chuck E. Cheese was forced to respond. The company refuted the claims, stating that their pizzas are made to order with fresh dough, which sometimes results in uneven slice sizes. However, their explanation did little to dissuade believers of the theory, and the controversy only added fuel to the fire. The controversy even led to a Buzzfeed video investigating the theory, which included an interview with a Chuck E. Cheese manager who denied the allegations but did not directly answer all the questions posed.

Other Chuck E. Cheese conspiracy theories

Chuck E. Cheese has been the centre of many conspiracy theories over the years, some more outlandish than others. One of the most well-known theories, popularised by YouTuber Shane Dawson, is that the restaurant recycles its uneaten pizza slices by baking them into new pies for customers. This theory emerged from observations of misshapen pizza slices, which Dawson and others believed could be the result of combining leftover slices from different pizzas. Chuck E. Cheese has refuted this theory, stating that their pizzas are made to order with fresh dough, which can result in slight variations in slice size.

• The Time-Travelling Founder: Some conspiracy theorists believe that Chuck E. Cheese's founder, Nolan Bushnell, is a time traveller. They claim that Bushnell's innovative ideas and success in the entertainment industry could only have been possible if he had knowledge of the future. This theory is often tied to Bushnell's involvement with Atari, the video game company that played a significant role in the development of arcade games and home gaming consoles.
• The Secret Society Connections: Another theory suggests that Chuck E. Cheese is a front for a secret society with hidden agendas. Conspiracy theorists have pointed to the company's use of an anthropomorphic rat as its mascot, which they claim is a symbol often used by secret societies. The theory also alleges that the games and activities within the restaurant are designed to indoctrinate children into a particular way of thinking that aligns with the society's beliefs.
• The Mind Control Experiments: A more sinister theory suggests that Chuck E. Cheese has been involved in mind control experiments on its young patrons. Conspiracy theorists have claimed that the combination of flashing lights, loud noises, and repetitive music creates a hypnotic environment that makes children more susceptible to suggestion. They believe that the real purpose of the games and activities is to test and refine mind control techniques.
• The Government Surveillance Partnership: This theory alleges that Chuck E. Cheese has been secretly working with government agencies to conduct surveillance on families. The colourful and chaotic environment, it is claimed, provides the perfect cover for hidden cameras and listening devices. Conspiracy theorists have pointed to the presence of security cameras and the collection of personal information during the registration process as evidence of this partnership.
• The Alternative Dimension Portal: A more supernatural theory suggests that Chuck E. Cheese restaurants are built on top of portals to alternative dimensions. Conspiracy theorists have claimed that the combination of arcade games, animatronic characters, and pizza creates a liminal space that weakens the barriers between our world and others. They believe that the company purposely chooses these locations to harness otherworldly energies for unknown purposes.

While these theories may seem far-fetched, they continue to circulate and capture the imaginations of many. It is important to approach them with a healthy dose of scepticism and remember that just because a theory is popular, it does not make it true.

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