Chuck E. Cheese Pizza: Fact Or Fiction?

In 2019, YouTuber Shane Dawson alleged that Chuck E. Cheese makes its pizzas using slices that were left uneaten by customers. The conspiracy theory was based on the observation that the pizza slices at Chuck E. Cheese often seem to be uneven and mismatched. Dawson's video on the topic received millions of views and caused Chuck E. Cheese to issue a statement denying the claims. The company attributed the uneven slices to the fact that their pizzas are made to order and cut by hand, resulting in slices that are not always perfectly uniform. Despite the denial, the theory continues to circulate and has sparked ongoing discussions and investigations by other YouTubers and the media.

YouTuber Shane Dawson's video on the theory

YouTuber Shane Dawson's video on the Chuck E. Cheese pizza theory has sparked a lot of interest and controversy. In his video, "Investigating Conspiracies with Shane Dawson," Dawson claims that Chuck E. Cheese assembles its pizzas from old, uneaten slices. He suggests that the franchise recycles pizza slices left behind by customers and uses them to create new pizzas to serve. Dawson first noticed this as a child, questioning why all the pieces of pizza looked different.

In the video, Dawson and his friends order several pizzas at a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant. When the pizzas arrive, they notice that the crust is misaligned and fails to form a perfect circle. They also point out the jagged crust and misaligned pepperonis. Dawson repeats, "Oh my god," as he pans over the pizzas, clearly in awe of what he believes to be evidence supporting his theory.

Towards the end of the video, Dawson takes a pizza home and attempts to figure out how the pizza was sliced. He tries to line up the pizza slices to form a perfect circle and questions why a piece seems to be missing. He claims that there is a reason for the misshapen pizzas, but he can't "legally" say what it is. However, given that he explained the conspiracy theory earlier in the video, it is clear that he believes Chuck E. Cheese recycles old pizza slices.

Dawson's video gained a lot of attention, and Chuck E. Cheese was forced to respond. The franchise released an official statement denying the claims made in Dawson's video, stating that their "pizzas are made to order, and [they] prepare [their] dough fresh in [their] restaurant, which means that they’re not always perfectly uniform in shape, but always delicious." Additionally, some former and current employees of Chuck E. Cheese have spoken out, denying the speculation and explaining that any abnormalities in the shape of the pizzas are due to the made-to-order process and the way the pizzas are cut and handled.

Chuck E. Cheese's response to the theory

The claims made in the video about our pizza are unequivocally false. There are 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.

We do not make a pizza until it is ordered. That is why the usual time to receive a pizza is 15 to 20 minutes. Any uneaten pizza that is not taken home is thrown away.

The wonky slices are because of our special curved blade. The pizzas come out misshapen after they're cut and transferred to the tray. They also move around a lot before being served, which can make them look uneven.

We've also heard speculation that we prepare several pies at a time, mixing and matching them as needed. This is not true. We only make one pie at a time.

We understand that the pizza may look a little strange sometimes, but we can assure you that it is made with the freshest ingredients and is safe to eat. We take food safety very seriously and would never serve leftover or uneaten food to our customers.

We invite anyone who is still sceptical to come and see our pizza-making process for themselves. We have nothing to hide and are happy to show our customers how we make their favourite pizzas.

The appearance of the pizza

YouTuber Shane Dawson, in his video "Investigating Conspiracies with Shane Dawson", alleged that Chuck E. Cheese's pizzas are assembled from old, uneaten slices. This theory has gained traction because, in many cases, the toppings, crust, and slices on Chuck E. Cheese's pies don't line up as expected.

In the video, Dawson and his companion order a cheese pizza and a pepperoni pizza. The pizzas they receive have uneven edges, and pepperonis that seem to be missing their other halves. Dawson suggests that the pizzas are made from multiple pieces of pizza put together. He cites other examples of mismatched pizzas that he has seen online.

The evidence for this theory includes the observation that the pizzas are not perfect circles, with slices of different lengths and crusts that don't align. Additionally, half a pepperoni may be missing, instead of appearing on a neighbouring slice.

Chuck E. Cheese has vehemently denied these rumours, stating that their pizza dough is made fresh at each store, and that any abnormalities in the shape of the pizzas are due to the made-to-order process. They claim that the pizzas are hand-cut and transferred to a tray, which can cause them to look a little off, especially if the person cutting is new.

Some alleged employees of Chuck E. Cheese's have also disputed the theory, stating that the pizzas are made fresh and any uneaten portions are thrown away. One employee attributed the wonky slices to the use of a "special curved blade" for cutting the pizzas. Another claimed that the pizzas are cut and served much earlier in the process, so by the time they are served, they may look uneven simply due to being moved around a lot.

Comments from former employees

Several former employees of Chuck E. Cheese have come forward to address the conspiracy theory that the company recylces leftover pizza slices to create new pies. In a video titled "Ex-Chuck E. Cheese Employee Responds To Shane Dawson's Conspiracy," YouTuber Payden clarified what happened in the kitchen, saying that rushed kitchen workers would sometimes cut ten slices instead of the required twelve, resulting in uneven lines and slices of varying sizes. He emphasized that the pizza was not recycled and that any leftover pizza was thrown away.

Another former employee, Samantha, who worked at the company in 2010 and 2011, told Insider that she had never witnessed pizza slices being recycled. She stated, "I've never seen anyone do that. It gets so cold and gross so fast that I feel like people would notice if they were recycled."

On Twitter, former and current employees have also refuted the theory. One former employee wrote, "I worked at Chuck E. Cheese and I have to say, that the conspiracy theory from @shanedawson is so fake. The pizza slices move when they move it from where they cut it to the pizza platter. Especially when they place a large pizza into an X-large pizza platter." Similarly, a current employee, Anjelica, tweeted, "I've literally been asked 5 times in the past 20 min. What Chuck E. Cheese employees do: Eat unclaimed pizza, eat cake families offer, Get fat. What we don't do: Recycle old pizza."

The popularity of the theory

Secondly, the theory itself taps into a common suspicion among customers who have noticed inconsistencies in the shape, size, and toppings of pizza slices served at Chuck E. Cheese. People have been suspicious for at least a decade, as evidenced by questions posted on platforms like Yahoo! Answers. The visual evidence, including images of misshapen pizzas with uneven edges and mismatched toppings, adds a compelling layer to the theory.

Thirdly, the response from Chuck E. Cheese and their employees further fuelled the fire. While the company vehemently denied the allegations, their explanation—that abnormalities in shape occur due to the made-to-order process and fresh dough preparation—was not satisfactory for many. The lack of direct answers from a Chuck E. Cheese manager in the Buzzfeed video also left room for speculation.

Finally, the theory's persistence can be attributed to ongoing discussions and investigations by online communities on platforms like Reddit and YouTube. People are intrigued by conspiracy theories, and the idea of uncovering a hidden truth about a beloved childhood pizza place is enticing. The theory's popularity is also likely sustained by the ongoing back-and-forth between those who support and refute the idea, with some providing counter-evidence and others remaining skeptical of Chuck E. Cheese's responses.

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