Champion Cut from Hot Dog Eating Contest over Brand Dispute
Joey "Jaws" Chestnut, the reigning champion of the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, will not take part in this year's event after signing a deal with another brand, organizers said on June 11.
The yearly contest, which dates back to 1972, sees large crowds of fans come to the original Nathan's Famous' restaurant in Coney Island, Brooklyn, to cheer on the competitors, who are allowed to soften the dogs in cups of water.
Chestnut, 40, has competed for the contest's Mustard Belt since 2005 and has won it almost every year since 2007, except for one loss in 2015. In 2021, the Westfield, Indiana, resident ate 76 franks and buns in 10 minutes, a record that still stands.
Major League Eating event organizer George Shea says Chestnut is out of the contest due to a contract dispute.
But Chestnut said on the social platform X, "I do not have a contract with MLE or Nathans and they are looking to change the rules from past years as it relates to other partners I can work with."
In a thread posted after the news broke, Chestnut said he had been training to defend his title at this year's Independence Day event and only learned through media reports that he wouldn't be allowed to compete.
"To my fans, I love you and appreciate you. Rest assured that you'll see me eat again soon!! STAY HUNGRY!" Chestnut said on X.
Shea says Chestnut struck a deal with a competing brand and that this was unacceptable for the Nathan's-sponsored event. He told the New York Times that Chestnut will be representing Impossible Foods, which makes vegan sausages. The company and Chestnut declined to comment on the deal.
However, Impossible Foods did release a statement saying that the company supports Chestnut in "any contest he chooses," adding "Meat eaters shouldn't have to be exclusive to just one wiener."
