In a video uploaded to YouTube in February 2019, Shane Dawson discussed a conspiracy theory about Chuck E. Cheese's pizza. Dawson suggested that the restaurant recycles pizza by taking leftover slices from customers, combining them into new pies, and serving them to new customers. Dawson pointed to the shape of the pizza and the placement of pepperoni as evidence to support his theory. Chuck E. Cheese denied these claims, stating that their pizzas are made to order with fresh dough, which can result in non-uniform shapes.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Date | February 11, 2019 |
Video Title | Investigating Theories with Shane Dawson |
Video Length | Over an hour |
Video Views | Over 8 million |
Conspiracy | Pizzas at Chuck E. Cheese are "recycled" and "Frankenstein-type" |
Evidence | Pizzas are misshapen, slices are different lengths, pepperoni doesn't line up |
Response from Chuck E. Cheese | "The claims made in this video about Chuck E. Cheese’s and our pizza are unequivocally false [...] our pizzas are made to order and we prepare our dough fresh in restaurant, which means that they’re not always perfectly uniform in shape, but always delicious." |
What You'll Learn
Shane Dawson's Chuck E. Cheese conspiracy theory video
In 2019, YouTuber Shane Dawson released a two-part video series titled "Investigating Conspiracies with Shane Dawson" as part of his "Conspiracy Theories" series. In the video, Dawson explored the conspiracy theory that Chuck E. Cheese recycles their pizzas and serves leftovers to customers.
Dawson pointed to evidence such as online photos of Chuck E. Cheese's pizzas, which showed slices of varying lengths within the same pie, and pepperoni that didn't line up from one slice to the next. He also visited a Chuck E. Cheese location and ordered three pizzas, which arrived misshapen.
The video sparked an uproar on social media, with fans questioning the freshness of Chuck E. Cheese's food. Chuck E. Cheese responded to the speculation, stating that there were "no conspiracies" and that their pizzas are made to order with fresh dough, which results in slices that are not always perfectly uniform. They also posted a video on Twitter showing a pizza being made fresh out of the oven.
Despite the response from Chuck E. Cheese, many people still believed the theory, and some even speculated that the chain would sue Dawson for his video. While there were reports of a 'cease and desist' order being sent to Dawson, neither party confirmed this.
In addition to the pizza conspiracy, Dawson's video also explored other topics, including an old friend's abusive relationship and an "ultra-realistic voice cloning and text-to-speech" app.
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Chuck E. Cheese's response to the video
We at Chuck E. Cheese are aware of the recent conspiracy theory video by Shane Dawson, alleging that our pizzas are "recycled" from leftover slices. We would like to strongly refute these claims and assure our customers that our pizzas are made to order and prepared with fresh dough in each of our restaurants. The variations in shape and size are simply due to the handmade nature of our dough preparation process, which gives our pizzas their delicious and unique character.
We take great pride in the quality and freshness of our ingredients, and the health and safety of our customers is our top priority. We have strict food handling and sanitation procedures in place, and we work closely with local health departments to ensure that our restaurants meet or exceed all health and safety standards. In addition, we regularly deep clean our play areas and use "green" sanitizing sprays to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for our guests.
Regarding the specific allegations in Shane Dawson's video, we would like to clarify that we do not engage in any form of "pizza recycling" or re-serving leftover food to our customers. Our pizzas are made fresh to order, and any uneaten portions are discarded. We have never had any complaints or health code violations related to "recycled" pizza at any of our locations, and we are confident that these allegations are completely unfounded.
We understand that the appearance of our pizzas may have sparked curiosity and speculation, but we want to assure our customers that there is no cause for concern. Our pizzas may not always be perfectly uniform, but they are always prepared with the utmost care and attention to food safety and quality. We invite anyone with questions or concerns to reach out to our guest relations team, and we are happy to provide additional information or clarification.
Finally, we would like to thank our loyal customers for their continued support and trust in our brand. We are committed to providing a fun, safe, and delicious experience for families to enjoy, and we will continue to uphold the highest standards in food preparation and service. Thank you for choosing Chuck E. Cheese.
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The video's impact on public opinion
Shane Dawson's video on Chuck E. Cheese's pizza sparked a range of reactions from the public, with some finding it entertaining and humorous, while others were concerned about the potential health risks and the possibility of Chuck E. Cheese taking legal action.
On the one hand, Dawson's video attracted a significant number of views, with the second part of his conspiracy theory docuseries accumulating over 7.7 million views at the time. Many people found the idea of "Frankenstein-type" pizzas amusing and shared their reactions on social media platforms like Twitter. Some even conducted their own investigations, using photo editing software to analyse the pizza slices. The video also prompted people to share their own pizza photos from Chuck E. Cheese's, adding to the online discussion.
On the other hand, there were concerns about the potential health implications of serving "recycled" pizza. While Chuck E. Cheese and health officials denied the allegations, the video sparked conversations about food safety and the importance of handwashing, especially during flu season. Some viewers were sceptical of Dawson's theory, defending the company and asserting that the pizza slices simply shift when moved from the cutting board to the platter, resulting in uneven shapes.
Additionally, there was speculation about potential legal repercussions for Dawson. While he framed his video as a theory and not a fact, some viewers and commenters anticipated the possibility of a lawsuit from Chuck E. Cheese. However, others argued that he had not made any direct accusations and always presented his content as theories.
Overall, the video's impact on public opinion seemed to be mixed. While some viewers were entertained and engaged in online discussions, others were concerned about health and legal implications. The video sparked conversations about food safety and handwashing, and some people who worked at Chuck E. Cheese came forward to defend the company's practices. The controversy surrounding the video contributed to an ongoing dialogue about the responsibilities and potential consequences of content creators sharing conspiracy theories, even when presented as entertainment.
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The video's impact on Chuck E. Cheese's business
Shane Dawson's video "Investigating Theories with Shane Dawson" made a claim about Chuck E. Cheese's pizza that it is made from leftover slices of uneaten pizza and then put together as a "new" pizza. The video, which is over an hour long, includes visual evidence of oddly shaped pizzas with slices of varying lengths and pepperoni that doesn't line up. Dawson also noticed a sign at a Chuck E. Cheese location that read, "Your pizza made fresh," which seemed to contradict the evidence he had gathered.
The video sparked a lot of interest and discussion, with people either supporting or refuting Dawson's theory. Some people who work at Chuck E. Cheese have defended the company, stating that each pie is fresh and that the inconsistencies in shape and size are due to the dough being prepared fresh in the restaurant.
Chuck E. Cheese strongly denied Dawson's claims. In a statement to the media, a spokesperson for the company said, "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 the restaurant, which means that they're not always perfectly uniform in shape, but always delicious."
The Knox County Health Department, which is responsible for restaurant inspections, also weighed in on the controversy. They stated that they had received no local complaints about pizza being re-served at the Knoxville location and that it would be extremely unlikely for pizza to be re-served without an inspector realizing it or consumers noticing and complaining.
While there was no mention of legal action in the sources provided, some people in the comments section of one of the articles did speculate about the possibility of Chuck E. Cheese suing Shane Dawson. However, it is important to note that these are just comments and may not reflect the actual intentions of the company.
Overall, the video's impact on Chuck E. Cheese's business is unclear. On one hand, the video sparked a lot of interest and discussion, which could have led to more people visiting the restaurant out of curiosity or to investigate the theory themselves. On the other hand, the video made a negative claim about the company's food practices, which could have potentially deterred customers from wanting to eat there. It is also worth considering that Chuck E. Cheese has faced other bad press, such as adults fighting in the restaurant, which could have a cumulative effect on their business.
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The veracity of the conspiracy theory
Shane Dawson, a YouTuber with a large following, posted a video in February 2019 in which he discussed a conspiracy theory regarding Chuck E. Cheese's pizza. Dawson claimed that the pizza served at the restaurant was made from leftover slices of uneaten pizza that were combined and reheated. He pointed out that the pizzas often looked misshapen and that the pepperoni did not line up correctly from one slice to the next. This theory is not new and has been floating around for a few years.
There is some "evidence" to support this theory. People have noticed that the pizzas at Chuck E. Cheese's are often not perfect circles, with slices of different lengths, and sometimes, half a pepperoni seems to be missing. Dawson's video, which has accumulated over 7.7 million views, caused quite a stir, with people either supporting or denying the theory. Some Twitter users claimed that the theory was fake, attributing the uneven slices to the pizza being moved from the cutting station to the pizza platter.
However, Chuck E. Cheese's has vehemently denied these rumors. A spokesperson for the company stated that their pizzas are made to order with fresh dough prepared in each store, which explains why the slices don't always match perfectly. Trisha York, the senior manager of a Chuck E. Cheese store in Knoxville, also denied the allegations, stating that they have never recycled pizzas and that they make them fresh to order. She added that on a typical Saturday, they make and serve between 270 and 350 large pizzas. Kevin Clark, the food program manager at the Knox County Health Department, supported this claim, stating that there have been no local complaints about pizza being re-served at the Knoxville location.
While there is some circumstantial evidence to support the conspiracy theory, the claims made by Dawson and others remain unproven. The physical evidence of misshapen pizzas and mismatched pepperoni can be explained by the fact that the dough is prepared fresh in each store and may not always be perfectly uniform. Additionally, the high volume of pizzas made and served at Chuck E. Cheese's locations, as well as the lack of local complaints about recycled pizza, make it unlikely that the conspiracy theory is true.
In conclusion, while the conspiracy theory about Chuck E. Cheese's pizza has gained some traction online, there is insufficient evidence to support it. The company has denied the allegations, and health inspectors and local managers have found no issues related to recycled pizza. It is important to remember that conspiracy theories are often based on speculation and may not reflect the truth.
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Frequently asked questions
Shane Dawson theorised that Chuck E Cheese's pizzas are made from leftover slices of uneaten pizza and then put together as a "new" pizza.
Dawson pointed out that the pizzas are not perfect circles, the slices are different lengths, and sometimes half a pepperoni is missing.
Chuck E Cheese vehemently denied the rumours, stating that their pizzas are made to order with fresh dough, which is why slices are not always uniform in shape.
Yes, some viewers and former employees of Chuck E Cheese denied the theory, stating that the pizza slices can shift when moved from the cutting board to the pizza platter, causing them to appear mismatched.
Yes, Dawson's video received over 7.7 million views and sparked discussions about the possibility of "recycled" pizzas being served at Chuck E Cheese.