Information reaching Kossyderrickent has it that Nathan’s banned Joey Chestnut after he signed $1.2M 4-year deal with Impossible Foods Vegan.
Joey Chestnut will not be competing in the 2024 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island.
Chestnut has chosen to represent a rival brand that sells plant-based hot dogs.
Major League Eating issued a statement that read in part, “MLE and Nathan’s went to great lengths in recent months 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. 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 hot dog brand over our long-time relationship.”
Chestnut has won the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest 16 times. He has been the winner of the 4th of July event every year since 2016 and ate a record 76 hot dogs and buns in 2021.
Last year, Chestnut exerted his influence and endeared himself to fans even further when he refused to allow the contest to be canceled due to weather.
Without Chestnut, many fans probably won’t even bother to watch this year’s Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.