Joey Chestnut Has Been Banned From The Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest For The Dumbest Reason

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Joey Chestnut is not only the greatest competitive eater in history but arguably the most dominant athlete the world has ever seen. However, things have taken a shocking turn less than a month before the sport’s premier event now that he’s been banned from participating in the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.

In 2007, Joey Chestnut ended Takeru Kobayashi’s six-year reign as the champion at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest by downing 66 wieners and buns to reclaim the Mustard Belt back to America. That victory marked the start of an unrivaled dynasty that’s seen the California native win 15 of the past 16 contests (the lone loss during that stretch was a shocking upset at the hands of Matt Stonie in 2015).

All signs pointed to the man known as “Jaws” taking home his 17th title when the world turned its attention to Coney Island on July 4, 2024, but according to The New York Post, everyone else who’s slated to compete in the gluttonous spectacle built on a foundation of tubed meat has been presented with a golden opportunity now that the 40-year-old glizzy god has been disqualified.

The outlet reports Chestnut has drawn the ire of the folks at Nathan’s Famous for inking a sponsorship deal with Impossible Foods, the purveyor of plant-based alternatives that recently launched its own hot dog.

Major League Eating (MLE), which runs the hot dog eating contest in conjunction with Nathan’s, issued the following statement (a spokesperson who spoke with Greg Rosenstein asserted there was no explicit ban in place, but the fact that his participation is contingent on him severing ties with a “rival brand” would suggest that is indeed the case).

This isn’t the first time a contract dispute has marred the event. In 2010, Kobayashi (who recently retired from competitive eating) was banned for refusing to sign an exclusive deal with Major League Eating and was arrested when he made his way onto the stage after showing up at the event.

Chesnut currently holds the record for the most hot dogs eaten at the contest after downing 71 in 2021, and the 40-year-old has stated he thinks he still has what it takes to top that number.

It really seems like MLE is overplaying its hand here when you consider Chestnut is a household name who is arguably worth much, much more to them than the organization is worth to him.

I’ll personally be boycotting the contest in solidarity with the G.O.A.T unless they reevaluate this ludicrous decision., and I highly doubt I’m the only person who will be doing so (the cynical side of me also feels like there’s a chance this is a P.R. stunt that will end with Nathan’s and Impossible Foods striking some sort of compromise to allow vegan dogs into the contest, and if that ends up being the case, I’ll be boycotting both brands).