Hot dog eating champ Joey Chestnut barred from competing in this year’s contest

Erika Tulfo, CNN

New York (CNN) — Dynastic basking canine eating champion Joey Chestnut will not compete successful this year’s Nathan’s basking canine eating title aft he struck a woody pinch plant-based nutrient institution Impossible Foods.

“We are devastated to study that Joey Chestnut has chosen to correspond a rival marque that sells plant-based basking dogs alternatively than competing successful nan 2024 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest,” nan Major League Eating organization, which oversees nan event, said successful a statement.

Chestnut won nan “Mustard Yellow Belt” 16 times, ate a world grounds 76 basking dogs and buns successful 10 minutes successful 2021 and has reportedly made hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars for his competitory eating of basking dogs and different foods.

MLE co-founder George Shea said nan institution tried to accommodate Chestnut and his guidance team, which included allowing him to compete successful a rival unbranded basking canine eating title connected Labor Day.

“It’s a long-standing norm not to correspond a rival brand,” Shea said. “Michael Jordan can’t spell to Adidas and opportunity that Air Jordans are great.”

The MLE has besides emphasized that Chestnut was not banned for life from competing, citing his 20-year narration pinch nan league. The statement said that to travel backmost Chestnut must renounce deals pinch brands that rival Nathan’s.

“Joey Chestnut is an American hero. We would emotion thing much than to person him astatine Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest, which he has dominated for years. We dream that he returns erstwhile he is not representing a rival brand,” nan MLE said successful a statement.

An relationship nether Chestnut’s sanction wrote connected X Tuesday that he does “not person a statement pinch MLE aliases Nathans and they are looking to alteration nan rules from past years arsenic it relates to different partners I tin activity with.”

CNN has not independently confirmed nan authenticity of nan X account.

This is not nan first lawsuit of Nathan’s beefing pinch their winners. Chestnut’s rival and erstwhile reigning champion Takeru Kobayashi did not compete successful nan 2010 contest, reportedly owed to disputes pinch nan institution complete getting him to motion an exclusive contract.

An Impossible Foods spokesperson said, “We emotion Joey and support him successful immoderate title he chooses. It’s OK to research pinch a caller dog. Meat eaters shouldn’t person to beryllium exclusive to conscionable 1 wiener.”

Joey Chestnut, Nathan’s and its genitor company, Smithfield Foods, did not reply to requests for comment.