A US pizzeria is at the center of a heated internet debate after it showcased the “Jeffrey Dahmer Special” – a pizza with bloody toppings resembling human eyeballs, severed fingers and offal.
Images taken at a Capital Pizza location in Lubbock, Texas are making the rounds online. In the photos, it appears that the restaurant displayed the Jeffrey Dahmer Special front and center with a large label.
TMZ interviewed the restaurant owner, who said one of his servers came up with the concept “in honor of Halloween” and the Dahmer series. The macabre creation has netizens less than thrilled about it.
A Texas pizzeria is displaying a ‘Jeffrey Dahmer Special’ in its window to celebrate Halloween
Capital Pizza, in Lubbock, has a display of edible prop body parts, referring to Dahmer, who committed the murder and dismemberment of seventeen men and boys between 1978 and 91.
Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/tCC5KPdJpj
— Queer Insider 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️ (@qitweets) October 23, 2022
The special is not a real menu item and was only used as a window display.
Many argue that showing the pizza glorifies and humanizes Jeffrey Dahmer, the Milwaukee serial killer who sexually assaulted, murdered and dismembered 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991. He also cannibalized some of them.
We continue to give serial killers and mass murderers the infamy and immortality they richly do not deserve, while treating their victims like collateral damage regarding the merchandising and marketing of the true crime market
Just my perspective https://t.co/C3j1Bq6sKz— Andy Kahan (@akahancrimesto1) October 23, 2022
Most of Dahmer’s victims were black and brown, which, many believe, is the reason his crimes are not taken seriously and to some extent glorified.
“Do you have Bundy or Gacy pizzas?” asked one Twitter user. “Their victims were mainly white men and women. Dahmer’s were black or other POCs,” they pointed out.
Why do they think it’s funny? Do you have Bundy or Gacy pizzas? No! Know why? Their victims were mainly “white” men & women. Dahmer’s we are primarily black or other POC. Boycott!
Dahmer Special’ Pizza Dished in Texas Sparking Rage and Interest https://t.co/s05hHeFSKN— BlazingAries (@BlazingAries) October 22, 2022
Despite several complaints made to the police about the screams and smell of rotting flesh coming from his apartment, Dahmer managed to continue his march for years.
People are leaving comments on Capital Pizza’s Instagram page in protest of the pizza.
“These were real people he killed,” one person wrote. “They had families who will see what you do. It’s not fun or good PR.”
“Disrespectful that you openly celebrate a murderer. Disgusting,” said another.
It comes in the middle of the debate over the new Netflix series Dahmerwhich drew much criticism for reliving the trauma of losing their loved ones to the families of Dahmer’s victims.
Many argue that it also softens the serial killer’s image, portraying him as a lonely, mentally ill man with abandonment issues in order to elicit empathy from viewers.
Even with complaints from disgruntled customers, the restaurant says it will remove the pizza from its display after Halloween, which is still a week away.
What do you think?
