Shane Dawson And Chuck E. Cheese's Downfall

In 2019, YouTuber Shane Dawson, known for his conspiracy theory videos, alleged that the pizza served at the family entertainment chain Chuck E. Cheese was made from recycled slices of uneaten pizzas. In his video, Dawson showed a photo of a pizza with uneven slices, which he claimed was evidence of the restaurant reusing old slices to create new pizzas. The video, which amassed 14 million views in two days, led to a public response from Chuck E. Cheese refuting the theory and stating that their pizzas are made to order with fresh dough, which may result in uneven shapes. Despite the company's denial, the conspiracy theory sparked widespread discussion and criticism of Chuck E. Cheese's pizza-making practices.

Shane Dawson's rise to fame

Shane Dawson, born Shane Lee Yaw on July 19, 1988, in Long Beach, California, is an American YouTuber, actor, filmmaker, writer, and musician. Dawson was one of the first people to rise to fame on YouTube, joining the platform in 2008 at the age of 19 and garnering over 500 million views in the next two years.

Dawson's early work consisted of comedy sketches in which he played original characters, impersonated celebrities, and made light of popular culture. One of his early videos, "Fred is Dead," parodied Lucas Cruikshank's hyperactive character Fred Figglehorn, attracting substantial viewer numbers and helping to establish Dawson as a YouTube star. He soon developed a knack for creating outrageous, foul-mouthed characters, including "ghetto girl" Shanaynay and "Aunt Hilda," a semi-abusive alcoholic.

In 2010, Forbes magazine named Dawson the 25th most famous web celebrity. In 2013, he added a podcast, "Shane and Friends," to his media empire and directed his first feature film, "Not Cool" (2014). The film received universally negative reviews but won a reality competition series, earning Dawson a $250,000 cash prize. Dawson also made his publishing debut in 2015 with "I Hate Myselfie," a collection of personal essays based on his upbringing and experiences. The book became a New York Times bestseller, as did his second book, "It Gets Worse" (2016).

In 2015, Dawson began discussing conspiracy theories on his YouTube channel, which led to his 2019 web series "Conspiracy Series with Shane Dawson." One of his conspiracy theory videos involved the family-friendly restaurant Chuck E. Cheese's pizza. Dawson described how the pizzas at Chuck E. Cheese are composed of slices that do not match, leading to speculation that workers take leftover slices from unfinished pizzas and combine them to make new orders.

In June 2020, YouTube indefinitely suspended monetization on all three of Dawson's channels following a public backlash over numerous controversial comments he had made in the past, particularly regarding underage girls and zoophilia. He took a hiatus and returned to YouTube on October 7, 2021.

Chuck E. Cheese pizza conspiracy theory

In 2019, YouTuber Shane Dawson, known for his conspiracy theory videos, alleged that the pizza served at the family entertainment restaurant and chain Chuck E. Cheese was made from recycled slices of uneaten pizza from other customers. In his video, Dawson shows a photo of a pizza with slices of differing sizes to support his theory. He and his friends also ordered pizza at a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant and received a pizza that looked misshapen. Dawson claims that he had noticed this as a child and that a friend who worked at Chuck E. Cheese confirmed the theory.

Dawson's conspiracy theory video received 14 million views in two days, prompting Chuck E. Cheese to respond with an official statement: "The claims made in this video about Chuck E. Cheese 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."

Despite Chuck E. Cheese's denial, the conspiracy theory continued to gain traction, with social media users demanding an explanation from the company. Some pointed to the company's unusual amount of advertising for its pizzas as suspicious. However, others defended Chuck E. Cheese, noting that misaligned crusts and uneven slices could be the result of kitchen staff cutting the pizza too early in the process or cutting extra slices to make up for missing ones.

While Dawson's theory was never proven, it sparked a debate about the quality and preparation of Chuck E. Cheese's pizzas, with many questioning why the company had not adjusted its slicing process to dispel the rumor once and for all.

Chuck E. Cheese's response to the conspiracy theory

Chuck E. Cheese's has responded to Shane Dawson's conspiracy theory, which alleged that the company recycles its uneaten pizza slices by baking them into new pies for customers. In a statement to People magazine, a spokesperson for the company refuted the claim, stating that the "claims made in this video about Chuck E. Cheese's and our pizza are unequivocally false." They emphasized that their pizzas are "made to order" and that they prepare their dough fresh in the restaurant, which can result in slightly uneven shapes but always ensures delicious pizzas.

The company's response to the conspiracy theory was swift and direct, denying the allegations made by Dawson and asserting the freshness and quality of their pizzas. They explained that the slight variations in the shape of their pizza slices are due to the fresh dough preparation and not because of recycling leftover slices. Chuck E. Cheese's also addressed the numerous lawsuits they have faced in the past for promoting gambling to young children, stating that they take these matters seriously and are committed to providing a safe and enjoyable experience for their customers.

Furthermore, Chuck E. Cheese's did not take legal action against Shane Dawson for his conspiracy theory video, despite the significant attention it received. The company chose to respond with a strong denial of the allegations and provided assurances about their food preparation practices.

While some former employees of Chuck E. Cheese's have come forward to deny the theory, others have offered alternative explanations for the misshapen pizzas. One ex-employee, YouTuber Payden, explained that the uneven slices could result from kitchen staff cutting the pizza in a hurry, sometimes resulting in a "funky" shape. Additionally, a manager interviewed by Buzzfeed attributed the uneven slices to the pizza being cut earlier in the process, causing it to move around and appear uneven by the time it is served.

Shane Dawson's other conspiracy theories

YouTuber Shane Dawson has made several videos discussing conspiracy theories, including a six-part web series called "Conspiracy Theories with Shane Dawson". In these videos, Dawson presents a mix of verifiably true statements and false conspiracy theories, such as:

• IPhones and the app Zepeto secretly record everything you say.
• The California wildfires were caused by direct energy weapons, kitchen microwave explosions directed by electric companies, or people burning down their houses for insurance money.
• Chuck E. Cheese recycles leftover pizza slices to serve to other customers.
• Supermarket layouts are designed to make you buy more items.
• Violence and suicide are common in children's cartoons.
• The Clinton family practices demon occultism.

Dawson's conspiracy videos have been controversial and have received criticism for promoting misinformation. However, they have also been popular with his audience, with his first conspiracy video receiving over 30 million views.

Shane Dawson's YouTube suspension

YouTuber Shane Dawson was indefinitely suspended from monetizing his three YouTube channels in June 2020. Dawson's main channel, "Shane", has over 22 million subscribers, his beauty channel has 3.7 million subscribers, and his third channel has nearly 8.4 million subscribers. The suspension came after a public backlash regarding numerous controversial comments made by Dawson in the past, including the use of blackface, saying the n-word, and playing Asian and Latino stereotypes in skits. Dawson also received criticism for sexualizing then-11-year-old Willow Smith in a video, which angered the Smith family.

In response to the backlash, Dawson posted a 20-minute apology video on June 26, 2020, in which he addressed his past use of blackface, the n-word, and other offensive comments. He also apologized to James Charles, whom he had criticized in a previous video. In his apology, Dawson acknowledged the harm caused by his actions and took accountability for his past decisions. Despite the apology, many viewers found the sentiments expressed to be insincere, leading to further criticism and pressure on both Dawson and YouTube.

In addition to the suspension, Dawson's two published books, "I Hate Myselfie" and "It Gets Worse", were also removed from the shelves of Target stores across the US.

Following the suspension, Dawson took a hiatus from YouTube and returned on October 7, 2021.

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