Joey Chestnut is speaking out publicly for the primary time since The Post revealed that the famed hot dog eater was out of this 12 months’s Fourth of July Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest attributable to beef over a hot dog brand he has made a cope with.
In an announcement on X on Tuesday night, Chestnut said he came upon through the media that he wouldn’t be competing within the annual Coney Island event, and he was “gutted” by the news.
The food fight stems from Chestnut’s deal to represent Unimaginable Foods, which recently launched a vegan hot dog, as a substitute of representing Nathan’s brand.
Joey Chestnut won first place eating 63 hot dogs in 10 minutes through the men 2022 Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
“I like competing in that event, I like celebrating America with my fans throughout this great country on the 4th and I even have been training to defend my title,” Chestnut wrote on X.
“To set the record straight, I shouldn’t have a contract with MLE or Nathans and so they want to change the principles from past years because it pertains to other partners I can work with. This is outwardly the premise on which I’m being banned, and it doesn’t impact the July 4th event.
“Sadly, that is the choice Nathan’s and Major League Eating are making, and it is going to deprive the nice fans of the vacation’s usual joy and entertainment. To my fans, I like you and appreciate you. Rest assured that you just’ll see me eat again soon!! STAY HUNGRY!”
Chestnut has won the famed Nathan’s hot dog eating event 16 times, coming up victorious every 12 months since 2016.
He ate 62 hot dogs last 12 months and put down a world record of 76 hot dogs in 2021.
Joey Chestnut stuffs his mouth with hot dogs through the men’s competition of Nathan’s Famous July Fourth hot dog eating contest, July 4, 2019. AP
Unimaginable Foods released its own statement on Tuesday, supporting the competitive eater.
“We love Joey and support him in any contest he chooses. It’s OK to experiment with a latest dog. Meat eaters shouldn’t should be exclusive to simply one wiener,” an Unimaginable Foods spokesman said.
Competitive eater Joey Chestnut poses together with his mustard yellow championship belt during a game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Ball State Cardinals at Sanford Stadium on September 9, 2023 in Athens, Georgia. Getty Images
Major League Eating said in an announcement that it was “devastated” that Chestnut had “chosen to represent a rival brand that sells plant-based hot dogs reasonably than competing within the 2024 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest.”
“For nearly 20 years we’ve worked under the identical basic hot dog exclusivity provisions,” the MLE statement also said. “Nevertheless, plainly Joey and his managers have prioritized a latest partnership with a distinct brand over our long-time relationship.”
