Joey Chestnut banned from Nathan's hot dog-eating contest over rival deal

Joey Chestnut emerges victorious after eating 63 hot dogs in 10 minutes during the 2022 Nathans Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York City. Kena Betancur/Getty Images hide caption

The country’s most notorious hot dog-eating contest is moving forward without its star stomach, after 16-time champion Joey “Jaws” Chestnut was banned for inking a deal with a company that makes plant-based franks.

Organizers of the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest said Tuesday that they banned Chestnut from the July 4th event after he signed an endorsement deal with Impossible Foods, which recently launched a new marketing campaign specifically targeting meat-eaters.

Major League Eating (MLE), the organization that oversees professional competitive eating events (including but not limited to hot dogs), said in a statement that Chestnut had “chosen to represent a rival brand” rather than compete in its storied Coney Island contest.

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“For nearly two decades we have worked under the same basic hot dog exclusivity provisions,” the statement said. “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, who has demolished over a thousand hot dogs in the contestsince his quest for Coney Island dominance began in 2005, said on social media that he was “gutted to learn from the media” about the ban.

“I love competing in that event, I love celebrating America with my fans all over this great country on the 4th and I have been training to defend my title,” Chestnut said, adding that the decision by MLE and Nathan’s will “deprive the great fans of the holiday’s usual joy and entertainment.”

He said he does not have a contract with MLE or Nathan’s Famous, and accused them of “looking to change the rules from past years as it relates to other partners I can work with.”

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When asked about Chestnut’s response, MLE’s chair and co-founder George Shea told NPR over email, “I literally do not know what he is talking about.” Nathan's did not respond to a request for comment.

Impossible appears to be trying to stay out of the beef.

“We love Joey and support him in any contest he chooses,” a company spokesperson said in a statement shared with NPR. “It’s OK to experiment with a new dog. Meat eaters shouldn’t have to be exclusive to just one wiener.”