BROOKLYN, New York — The number one ranked eater in the world will no longer participate in a time-honored American eating competition.
Joey Chestnut, the 16-time winner of the Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest held annually on the Fourth of July, will not be participating in this year's event. Major League Eating confirmed the decision in a statement sent to FOX59/CBS4 on Tuesday.
The reason? Beef over beef.
Chestnut recently partnered with Impossible Foods, a company known for making plant-based hot dogs and burgers. This doesn't cut the mustard for the Coney Island-based hot dog company that sponsors the annual competition and was previously endorsed by Chestnut.
"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," Major League Eating said in a statement.
Nathan's has long required its eaters not to endorse a rival brand if they are going to compete.
"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," Major League Eating said in a statement. "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, a 40-year-old California native who now lives in Westfield, Indiana, has won the country's most famous eating contest seven years straight dating back to 2016. Major League Eating said in its statement they'd be happy to take Chestnut back, if he drops the endorsement.
"Joey Chestnut is an American hero," the league said. "We would love nothing more than to have him at the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest, which he has dominated for years. We hope that he returns when he is not representing a rival brand."
Chestnut issued a statement of his own via X on Tuesday evening, saying he "was gutted to learn from the media that after 19 years (he is) banned from the Nathan's July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest."
Chestnut insisted he does not have a contract with MLE or Nathan's. He added that MLE and Nathan's are attempting to change the rules he had abided by in past years.
"To set the record straight, I do not have a contract with MLE or Nathan's and they are looking to change the rules from past years as it related to other partners I can work with," Chestnut wrote. "This is apparently the basis for which I'm being banned."
In the final update to his thread of posts, Chestnut wrote that the decision to ban him will affect the fan experience for this year's hot dog eating contest.
"Sadly, this is the decision Nathan's and Major League Eating are making, and it will deprive the great fans of the holiday's usual joy and entertainment, Chestnut wrote. "To my fans, I love you and appreciate you. Rest assured that you'll see me eat again soon!! STAY HUNGRY!"