Epstein files reignites bizarre Pizzagate conspiracy theory

The release of newly unsealed court documents connected to Jeffrey Epstein has sparked a resurgence of the long-debunked “Pizzagate” conspiracy theory online, despite no evidence to support revived claims, experts say.

The documents, made public under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, contain hundreds of references to “pizza” and other casual terms that some social media users have seized on as supposed “code words” linked to child exploitation. The posts have circulated widely on platforms like X and TikTok, reigniting speculation among conspiracy communities.

The term ‘pizza’ comes up hundreds of times in the documents (Picture: Getty)

The original Pizzagate theory emerged during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, when hacked emails from Democratic figures were misinterpreted to suggest a child trafficking ring was being run out of a Washington, D.C., pizzeria. Law enforcement and independent fact-checkers thoroughly debunked the claims.

Mentions of pizza parties and ‘sending pizza’ to guests’ rooms have emerged (Picture: DOJ)

Despite being repeatedly discredited, the theory resurfaced in the wake of the Epstein documents. Posts circulating online highlight mundane mentions of pizza in the files and claim, without proof, that they corroborate the earlier conspiracy. Analysts say the renewed attention is largely driven by misinformation and miscontextualized snippets shared out of context.

Authorities and credible news organizations caution that no credible evidence supports the Pizzagate narrative, and have urged the public to rely on verified sources for information about the Epstein files and related allegations.