Joey Chestnut, a 16-time winner of the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating contest on the Fourth of July, will not compete in 2024.
According The New York PostChestnut, who has won the contest every year since 2016, cannot compete next year due to an agreement he has with a competitor of Nathan's. The champion represents Impossible Foods, which recently launched a plant-based hot dog option.
The outlet reported that a representative from Major League Eating (MLE), who Nathan sanctioned to host the event, said he previously made adjustments to the contest specifically for Chestnut, but the final straw was that he chose to represent a brand of hot dog that's not Nathan's.
However, it agreed to allow him to compete in a Labor Day hot dog eating contest that would be recorded by Netflix, as long as no brand of hot dog was mentioned.
“We are devastated to learn that Joey Chestnut has chosen to represent a rival brand that sells plant-based hot dogs rather than compete in the famous 2024 Nathan's 4th of July hot dog eating contest,” said a MLE statement saying.
“MLE and Nathan's went out of their way to accommodate Joey and his management team, accepting the appearance fee and allowing Joey to compete in a rival off-brand hot dog eating contest on Labor Day.”
The statement ended: “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-term relationship. Joey Chestnut is an American hero. We would love nothing more than to have you in Nathan's famous international hot dog eating contest. We hope that he returns when he does not represent a rival brand.”
Chestnut currently holds the men's world record for eating 76 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes in 2021. Chestnut won the contest every year from 2007 to 2014 and then every year from 2016 to 2023. Matt Stone won the contest in 2015, eating 62 dogs to Chestnut's 60.
To win his last Nathan contest in 2023, he ate 62 hot dogs.
Every year, thousands of people flock to the Coney Island boardwalk in Brooklyn, New York, to watch the competitive diners on the Fourth of July. Despite existing for decades, the rules of the competition have not changed. The contest does not allow minors and competitors must be 18 years or older to compete. They have 10 minutes to eat as many hot dogs as possible, including the buns, using just their hands. Although some eating contests allow condiments, MLE has stated that they are not allowed at Nathan's. Contestants are given water and can also dip the hot dog buns in water to swallow them faster. The winner is the person who can eat the most within the given time period.
Men and women used to compete together, but since 2011 they were divided into two different competitions separated by gender. The last female winner of the hot dog eating contest was Miki Sudo, who ate 39 and a half hot dogs with buns, beating Mayoi Ebihara's 33 and a half hot dogs to achieve her ninth overall victory.
The independent has contacted Chestnut and Nathan's for comment.
