An all-star eater will be missing from this year's Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest—and it's all because of a vegan hot dog.
In a statement sent to the New York Post, Major League Eating (the company that runs the contest) confirmed that competitive eating champion Joey Chestnut will not take part in this year's challenge in Coney Island, Brooklyn, because of his ties with the plant-based food brand Impossible Foods.
According to MLE, Chestnut wanted to introduce a different hot dog to the competition (likely Impossible Foods' new vegan frankfurter). The company admitted that they gave in to Chestnut's previous demands, but swapping hot dogs was the last straw for them.
“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," a MLE rep shared 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."
Despite Chestnut's allegiance to Impossible Foods, MLE is still willing to take him back as a competitor as long as he's "not representing a rival brand.”
“Joey Chestnut is an American hero. We would love nothing more than to have him at the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest,” the rep added.
In the time since he began competing in Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, Chestnut has taken home the win an impressive 16 times.
Back in 2021, Chestnut spoke with Delish about how he first got into competitive eating. "I could eat more than pretty much all the other three brothers combined...It was something that I was kind of ashamed of and it was kind of like a joke," Chestnut said, explaining that his little brother was the one who saw this skill early on. "He signed me up to my first contest...I really didn't want to do it, but I only went to the first contest because I was 21 years old and the organizer offered him a free hotel room."
Chestnut won the last year's contest, his 16th victory, scarfing down 62 glizzies in under 10 minutes. It's estimated that all those hot dogs would add up to 18,414 calories.
In an Instagram post, Chestnut wrote that he's "very disappointed to learn from the media today that after nearly 20 years I am banned from the Nathan’s 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest."
"I love competing in that event. I love celebrating America with my fans all over this great country on the 4th and I have been training to defend my title.”
Chestnut also wrote that he wanted “set the record straight” about how he doesn't have a contract with Nathan’s or Major League Eating.
“They are looking to change the rules from past years as it relates to other partners I can work with,” he wrote.
“Sadly, this is the decision Nathan’s and Major League Eating are making and it will deprive the great fans of the holiday’s usual joy and entertainment. To my fans, I love you and appreciate you,” he wrote.
“Rest assured that you’ll see me eat again soon. Stay tuned and STAY HUNGRY!”
Update, June 28: Joey Chestnut will be competing in a hot dog eating competition this year after all—just not the famous one in Coney Island.
After falling out with the organizers of the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, he's now heading to an army base in Texas on the Fourth of July to face off against soldiers. As the AP reports, Chestnut will being competing against soldiers stationed in Fort Bliss, in El Paso. The hot dog eating contest will last five minutes, which is half as long as the Nathan's ten-minute competition.
