Joey Chestnut, who has won the annual Fourth of July Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Competition 16 times, will not be competing in 2024. According to The New York Post , Chestnut, who has won the contest every year since 2016, cannot compete this upcoming year due to a deal he has with a Nathan’s competitor. The champion is representing Impossible Foods, which recently released a plant-based hot dog option.
The outlet reported that a representative for Major League Eating (MLE), which Nathan’s sanctions to run the event, said that it previously made adjustments to the contest specifically for Chestnut, but the last straw was him choosing to represent a hot dog brand that isn’t Nathan’s. However, it did agree to let him compete in a Labor Day hot dog eating contest that would be taped by Netflix, as long as no hot dog brands were mentioned. “We are devastated to learn that Joey Chestnut has chosen to represent a rival brand that sells plant-based hot dogs rather than competing in the 2024 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest,” a statement from MLE said.
“MLE and Nathan’s went to great lengths 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.” 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.
