NEW YORK, NY — In a twist more shocking than a record-setting 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes, legendary competitive eater Joey Chestnut has been banned from the 2024 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. The bombshell revelation came in an exclusive interview with Sports Illustrated, where Chestnut pointed the finger squarely at contest organizers, Major League Eating (MLE), for what he described as a betrayal most foul.
The 16-time champion, known for his stomach of steel and insatiable hunger for glory, claims that the ban is the result of a contentious endorsement deal with Impossible Foods. According to Chestnut, the terms of his agreement were suddenly and unfairly altered, leaving him in a pickle. “Everything with Impossible was perfectly fine by all my previous agreements. They changed terms and conditions around exclusivity at the last minute,” Chestnut revealed. “They tried to dance around it — they changed a lot of terms, and then they escalated things by leaking false information and telling people I was banned and that I turned vegan, which clearly isn’t the case.”
The drama doesn’t stop there. Chestnut named George and Richard Shea, the brothers behind MLE, as the masterminds of his ouster. Despite their messages of regret, Chestnut remains adamant that this was a deliberate move to undermine his career. “They pretty much said they’re sorry it got ugly,” Chestnut said. “But sorry doesn’t get me back on Coney Island.”
This isn’t the first time MLE has played hardball with its eaters. competitive eating fans will recall similar disputes with Takeru Kobayashi and Matt Stoney, both of whom fell out with Nathan’s organizers over contract issues. It seems the only thing harder to swallow than 76 hot dogs is the MLE’s contract negotiations.
Despite the setback, Chestnut isn’t one to hold a grudge. “I don’t think the Shea brothers are bad people. I’m not burning any bridges. I love the Fourth of July and that contest,” he said, leaving the door open for a potential return.
In the meantime, Chestnut has cooked up other plans. On Thursday, he’ll be at Fort Bliss, competing against soldiers in a five-minute eating contest. Then, on Labor Day, he faces off against his old nemesis, Kobayashi, in a Netflix special titled “Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef.” It seems that while Chestnut may be temporarily sidelined from Nathan’s, his competitive spirit is far from extinguished.
So, for those who thought they’d seen the last of Chestnut’s epic eating escapades, think again. The king of competitive eating is down, but definitely not out, and relishes the chance to chow down on new challenges.
