Photo by Diane Pappafotis.

Comet Ping Pong is increasing security at its concerts, following continued harassment over an unproven, discredited conspiracy that the popular pizzeria is at the center of a satanic sex ring for pedophilic elites.

The restaurant, owner James Alefantis, 40 some-odd employees, neighbors and musicians who’ve played the venue have received threats and seen their social media flooded with accusations. Conspiracy theorists have distributed innocuous photos posted by customers and employees of their own children as some kind of proof of impropriety.

“Comet Ping Pong, like any respectable venue, is dedicated to creating a safe and inviting space for all of our concert-goers,” the pizzeria said in a Facebook post. “There have been no hostile situations at the venue, and we do not anticipate any altercations as much of the harassment has occurred online, but as a precaution we now have security and police present at every show.”

The harassment, which began shortly before the election, stems from the hacked emails of John Podesta, Hillary Clinton’s campaign chair. Alefantis and Podesta communicated about cooking for a Clinton fundraiser.

Since then, so-called “Pizzagate” has people convinced that the word “pizza” in the emails was a code for something nefarious, rather than the popular meaning of a flatbread topped with sauce and cheese. The Pieces of the Puzzle are in the Pizza!” wrote Voat user Somnium9. (Voat is a news aggregator and social network, and many Reddit users are decamping there over what they say is a more open free speech policy.)

Attempts to curb the spread of the theory—like shutting down a subreddit where many of the theorists discussed the theory or vocal support from D.C. councilmembers—only led the believers to grow more convinced they were onto something.

And now, the circle of those drawn into Pizzagate expands beyond Comet Ping Pong and its neighbors. Theorists are casting their eyes at local arts and culture blog Brightest Young Things as a “new possible lead.”

Voat user spidda tied Alefantis’ role on the board of local art gallery Transformer to BYT, which previews the event each year. In a thread that garnered 80 comments, spidda calls BYT a “suspect youth organization…that posts pics of pentagrams on hotdogs.”

BYT founder Svetlana Legetic says that “we are just a fertile ground” for conspiracists. “Because it’s a slightly ridiculous website, you have more things to read into.” She added that no one has contacted or threatened BYT in response to the thread.

The Brightest Young Things team is embracing it. In addition to making its weekend events post Satan-themed, managing editor Brandon Wetherbee admitted today in a facetious post that “I’m the Devil.”