National eating champion Joey Chestnut will miss the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Competition in New York for the first time in more than 15 years due to violating his agreement with the Frankfurter company by signing up to represent a company that makes vegan hot dogs.
But dog gone it, not this year.
Nathan’s has stated that they are done accommodating Chestnut’s demands, as he has crossed a line by endorsing the meatless hot dogs produced by plant-based food company Impossible Foods.
When he turned to a non-meat brand, it was the final straw.
“We are devastated to learn that Joey Chestnut has chosen to represent a rival brand that sells plant-based hot dogs rather than competing in the 2024 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest,” Major League Eating (MLE) said in a statement.
“MLE and Nathan’s went to great lengths to accommodate Joey and his management team, agreeing to the appearance fee and allowing Joey to compete in a rival, unbranded hot dog eating contest on Labor Day,” they added.
Joey Chestnut reacts after winning first place, eating 63 hot dogs in 10 minutes, during the 2022 Nathans Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4, 2022, at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. (Kena Betancur/Getty Images)
“For nearly two decades, we have worked under the same basic hot dog exclusivity provisions. However, it seems that Joey and his managers have prioritized a new partnership with a different brand over our long-time relationship,” the statement continued.
Chestnut has not yet commented on his exclusion from this year’s Nathan’s event.
Chestnut made headlines in 2022 when he took down an animal rights activist who tried to disrupt the 15th annual Nathan’s event.
When the activist bumped Chestnut aside as he stood on stage, the champion grabbed the intruder by the neck and flung him to the ground.
Chestnut just obliterated him pic.twitter.com/dry7Oy8KZK
— jonah block (@JonahBlock05) July 4, 2022
