Epstein files reignites bizarre Pizzagate conspiracy theory
Ten years ago, a wild conspiracy theory gripped the internet surrounding a claim that a paedophilia ring was operating from a pizza restaurant in the US.
Now it has erupted once more thanks to the millions of documents, photos and notes released in the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Within these, the term ‘pizza’ is mentioned more than 600 times, reigniting the fake news theory.
The theory claimed the words ‘cheese pizza’ were a secret code used by child abusers for ‘child pornography’.
One email discovered in the trove of Epstein files includes the subject line: ‘Your Pizza is YUMMY YUMMY!’
The message reads: ‘Thank you for the pizza today! really good!! xo!’
‘Let’s go for a pizza and grape soda again. No one else can understand,’ another email read.
Though some have speculated these messages are just chat about dinner plans, others are beginning to believe they have a more nefarious meaning, and are referencing the conspiracy.
The theory first emerged before the US election in 2016, and saw anonymous users on 4chan then speculate that other food-related terms online referred to specific children or sexual words.
Paedophiles are known to use coded language as a means of finding others like themselves on social media.
Comet Ping Pong pizza restaurant in Washington, D.C., then became the focus of false accusations suggesting a child sex ring operated out of it.
Pizza wasn’t the only food term used bizarrely in Epstein’s correspondence. The terms ‘muffins’ and ‘steak’ were also thrown around.
One woman emailed Ghislaine, writing: ‘Which muffin?? HAHA. (Hope you like white bread.)’
Another woman said: ‘Jeff wants to take a muffin on the plane with him today. Can u pls make sure we have one to take?’
Though Pizzagate has still been disproven, the release of millions of documents related to paedophile Epstein, and the mention of the term hundreds of times in emails, has sparked discussion yet again.
Karen Douglas, Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Kent, studies the psychology of conspiracy theories and the consequences they can pose.
Professor Douglas told Metro: ‘People are attracted to conspiracy theories when one or more fundamental psychological needs are frustrated.’
The need of humans to know the truth and have clarity, along with the need to feel safe and feel positive about the groups they belong to, means humans might be attracted to conspiracy theories to ‘cope’ in difficult situations, she said.
‘A simple explanation is often not very appealing. People assume that there must somehow be a bigger explanation, or more going on than people know about,’ she said.
‘Conspiracy theories do have consequences, and can affect people’s intentions and behaviours. They can turn people away from mainstream politics and science in favour of more extreme political views and anti-science attitudes.
‘For some people, they might just be entertaining and harmless fun, but in many cases, they are potentially much more dangerous.’
The Pizzagate conspiracy became dangerous in 2016, when Edgar Welch walked into a pizza parlour, which he believed was a child sex ring operated out of and opened fire. He was arrested and jailed for five years.
He cited leaked emails to and from Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman, John Podesta, which mentioned the word ‘pizza’ and making plans at the Comet Ping Pong pizzeria.
An email about a fundraiser being held at the restaurant was then wrongly interpreted as a secret conversation about a sex party.
This sparked more wild conspiracy theories that the site practised Satanism and had an underground dungeon where victims were kept, despite the restaurant not even having a basement.
Professor Douglas explained: ‘It is easy to find and share conspiracy theories on social media. People who are interested in conspiracy theories can find them almost immediately, and they can spread rapidly.
‘Once conspiracy theories are out there, they are difficult to quell, especially when some of the facts are still unknown.’
The mystery surrounding Epstein’s island, his mentions of pizza hundreds of times and his crimes may have led people to turn back to a once fringe conspiracy theory, Douglas argued.
‘Once people believe in a conspiracy theory, it is often difficult to convince them otherwise.’
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