‘Did you think I wouldn’t notice’: Philadelphia man has ‘urgent message’ for Cheesecake Factory CEO after sneaking cheesecake slice into movies
For years, The Cheesecake Factory has been a fan favorite for its extensive menu, offering 250 options, including 57 varieties of cheesecake, all served in large portions. But have their famous cheesecake slices changed? Social media thinks so, accusing the restaurant of a phenomenon other companies they’ve faced: shrinkflation.
What is shrinkflation?
Shrinkflation combines the words ‘shrink’ and ‘inflation.’ Introduced in 2009 by British economist Pippa Malmgren, this term describes companies that quietly keep or reduce the size of a product while increasing its prices. However, it wasn’t until 2022 that the term became popular on the internet. In fact, a 2024 LendingTree survey found that 71% of consumers have noticed shrinkflation, with 66% saying they have stopped purchasing those products.
Consequently, disgruntled customers have spoken out and even criticized brands on social media. This Philadelphia-based man is putting the Cheesecake Factory and its CEO on blast for the size of the beloved desserts.
“This message is for the CEO of Cheesecake Factory,” TikTok creator Pat Egan (@pat_egan) says while standing in his kitchen, cooking a steak. “My question to you is: did you think I wouldn’t notice? You thought you could just fly under the radar cause you got 8 billion items on your menu, you thought nobody would notice the scumbbagery that you’re pulling off?” Then, he dives into his story that led to his angry conclusion.
What was wrong with his cheesecake?
“Yesterday, I went to Cheesecake Factory because I wanted to sneak in a cheesecake to the movie I was going to,” he shares. “I was appalled, aghast, [and] borderline offended when they told me the price was 13. Because the memories of eating said cheesecake are going to outweigh the $13 price tag.”
After he received his dessert, he experienced firsthand how shrinkflation has allegedly affected everywhere. “I proceed to sneak my cheesecake into the movies cause I’m a rebel. When I opened the cheesecake, I noticed something. While inflation has gone up, deflation has hit,” he recalls. “It’s way smaller.”
Subsequently, the content creator compared the sizes of past confections with those of the present. “Back in the glory days, when it was seven to eight dollars, it was a hefty piece of cheesecake,” he recounts. “It was half that. There was more whipped cream than cheesecake.”
To add insult to injury, Egan claimed the S’Mores Galore cheesecake he purchased has been ‘revamped.’ “They used to toast it up. It was like [marshmallow] city. You know what they do now? Just whipped cream,” he says.
Lastly, Egan signs off with a message to David M. Overton, the company’s current CEO. “So, again, CEO of Cheesecake Factory, get your house in order. You’re better than this,” he says. “I noticed that you have been skimping for probably years, with no one noticing. I feel like I can’t be the only one who noticed.”
What did viewers think?
The video racked up over 201,000 views. This observation didn’t go unnoticed by outraged viewers in the comments section. Some recalled how big the cheesecake slices used to be.
“It was a [two-day] slice. I knew I was having a treat two days in a row when I got a slice. Not anymore,” one viewer shared.
“I could not finish the [cheesecake] before,” another echoed.
As a result, many have boycotted by refusing to dine at The Cheesecake Factory.
“I wont buy their cheesecake anymore because they doubled the price and [halved] the cheesecake,” one commenter remarked.
“It used to be one of my favorite places. I had to quit them because their portion to price ratio was disrespectful,” a second stated.
A third concurred, “It is infant size for sure. I quit eating there just because of the cheesecake. They showed that they are not the Cheesecake Factory anymore.”
Have Cheesecake Factory’s slices shrunk?
Although The Cheesecake Factory has never confirmed or denied these allegations, it has faced scrutiny for some time. At the beginning of the month, The Mary Sue reported on a Cheesecake Factory customer who called out the restaurant chain for the cheesecake slices. To demonstrate, she held the thin slice, which was approximately the same length as her hand. An alleged former employee had an explanation.
“I worked in the bakery of the Cheesecake Factory a few months ago and they told us the slices were going to get smaller and that guests would probably say something, and to just deny it,” they claimed without any evidence.
Moreover, FoodRepublic published a piece in May that compiled these complaints from Reddit. With that, alleged current and former employees weighed in, garnering mixed answers. Some said their cheesecake slicer is precut into small slices, while others discard those slices. Whether this is universal, deliberate, or an accident, customers aren’t thrilled.
@pat_egan A message to the CEO of Cheesecake Factory and Cheesecake Factory ONLY #FYP #cheesecakefactory #Philly #PhillyTok #StortTime ♬ Take The Power Back – Rage Against The Machine
The Mary Sue reached out to Egan via TikTok comment and direct message as well as The Cheesecake Factory via press email.
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