Fan theory says Sopranos' DiMeo crew used human meat at Satriale's

Movieweb reports a long-running fan theory claims members of The Sopranos' DiMeo crime family disposed of bodies by mixing human flesh into meals at Satriale's Pork Store, a debate that began with a Reddit post eight years ago and continues despite the show ending 19 years ago.

Supporters point to repeated imagery and dialogue: human bodies are often handled like animal meat on the show, a Season 1 dream sequence shows body parts mixed in Satriale's display case, and a behind-the-scenes scene has Big Pussy saying they made sausages out of men they whacked. The DiMeo name echoes real-life Gambino associate Roy Albert DeMeo, who used a dismemberment method and was rumored to be a cannibal, and the article notes David Chase appears to have chosen the name intentionally. Other hints cited include Satriale's mostly hosting mobsters (with an FBI agent shown complaining of stomach issues), a line in Season 2—"It's gonna be a while before I eat anything from Satriale's"—and that Tony is never shown bringing meat home.

The theory draws a Sweeney Todd parallel: if true, cannibalism would darken the show's moral landscape, complicating viewers' affinity for the characters and offering a plausible body-disposal method that avoids detection. The claim remains speculative and debated rather than confirmed; the series itself ran from 1999 to 2007 on HBO, and no definitive on-screen confirmation has been established.

Key Topics

Culture, The Sopranos, Dimeo Crime Family, Satriale's Pork Store, Tony Soprano, Roy Albert Demeo