“Pizzagate” is a conspiracy theory that falsely claimed the New York City Police Department discovered a pedophilia ring linked to the Democratic Party through Anthony Weiner’s emails during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Proponents alleged coded messages in John Podesta’s hacked emails connected high-ranking Democrats to a child sex ring, with Comet Ping Pong pizzeria in Washington, D.C., as a focal point. Spread by alt-right individuals and conservative journalists on social media platforms like 4chan and Twitter, the theory led to real-world consequences, including a shooting incident at Comet Ping Pong. The conspiracy theory evolved into QAnon and resurged in 2020, reaching TikTok users. Additionally, it found traction in Turkey, possibly as a distraction from local child abuse scandals. The theory resulted in harassment and threats towards Comet Ping Pong’s owner and staff.
The Pizzagate controversy originated in 2016 with the publication of Democratic National Committee (DNC) emails by WikiLeaks, sparking speculation about DNC staffer Seth Rich’s death. Online investigations uncovered coded language and connections involving powerful figures. John Podesta’s emails revealed ties to performance artist Marina Abramovic and references to “spirit cooking.” Comet Ping Pong, owned by James Alefantis and linked to Podesta and David Brock, featured symbols and images raising suspicions of child trafficking. The restaurant’s logo and Instagram posts were scrutinized for potential coded messages related to pedophilia. The controversy persists despite attempts to erase evidence from the internet.
The resurgence of the conspiracy theory surrounding adrenochrome harvesting in 2020, particularly fueled by the Covid-19 pandemic, highlights a darker agenda at play. This theory suggests that global elites torture children to extract adrenochrome from their blood, which they use to stay healthy and young. The origins of this conspiracy theory can be traced back to online communities like QAnon and Pizzagate, with roots in anti-Semitic blood libel myths from the Middle Ages.Jennifer Garner is facing criticism for promoting the children’s book “Secret Pizza Party” during an event for Save the Children, an organization under trafficking investigation. Critics claim the book encourages children to keep secrets, with some calling Garner’s actions “disgusting.” The FBI has confirmed that ‘pizza’ is a special code, adding to the controversy. Garner has not responded to the backlash yet.
