I bet most did not see this coming…
Richard Shea, the president of Major League Eating (MLE), confirmed that the annual Nathan’s hot dog eating contest will proceed as scheduled on the Fourth of July in Brooklyn, New York, despite the absence of Joey Chestnut, a 16-time champion of the event. Chestnut will not participate this year due to a conflict arising from a recent sponsorship deal with Impossible Foods, known for its plant-based products, including a vegan hot dog. This sponsorship conflicts with MLE’s rules, which prohibit competitors from endorsing rival brands.
Never forget the time Joey Chestnut RKO’d a protestor and still won the hot dog eating contest in a landslide 🌭 pic.twitter.com/E8I4yvf0Ca
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) June 11, 2024
Shea emphasized the importance of the event in the competitive eating calendar, likening it to “The Masters” of golf. He highlighted the significance of the mustard yellow belt awarded to the winner, comparing it to the prestigious green jacket in golf. According to Shea, no true fan of competitive eating or sports would dispute the event’s prominence.
The absence of Chestnut is a significant blow to the event, as MLE expressed disappointment in their statement, noting the long-standing relationship with him and the unexpected shift due to his new partnership. Despite this setback, MLE mentioned that it had previously allowed Chestnut to participate in another competition on Labor Day, which will be showcased on Netflix. Last year, Chestnut reportedly earned $200,000 from the event and was offered a contract worth $1.2 million over four years.
BREAKING: Zion Williamson is expected to replace Joey Chestnut in this year's Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. pic.twitter.com/PDWFsQrjjt
— Buttcrack Sports (@ButtCrackSports) June 12, 2024
MLE stressed that it had made considerable efforts to accommodate Chestnut and his management, including agreeing to substantial appearance fees and allowing him to compete in an unbranded competition. However, they lamented that Chestnut and his team chose a new partnership over their longstanding collaboration.
For his part, Chestnut expressed his disappointment about being excluded from the contest, revealing that he learned of the decision through the media. He emphasized his love for the event and the Fourth of July celebrations, noting his ongoing preparation to defend his title. He clarified that he does not have a contract with MLE or Nathan’s and disagreed with the change in policy regarding partnerships.
Breaking: Joey Chestnut is out from Hot Dog Eating Contest and has sold out all Americans and units. Shame on you Joey, shame on you. pic.twitter.com/LpBnJvzolO
— Gunz (@TheGunzShow) June 11, 2024
Chestnut reassured his fans that they would see him compete again soon and encouraged them to “stay hungry,” underscoring his commitment to continue in competitive eating despite the current challenges. Shea also remarked that had Chestnut been promoting a non-conflicting product like hamburgers, there would have been no issue with his participation in the event.
Major Points
- Joey Chestnut will not compete in the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest due to a sponsorship deal with Impossible Foods, conflicting with Major League Eating (MLE) rules.
- The annual Fourth of July event in Brooklyn will proceed without Chestnut, a 16-time champion, as confirmed by MLE President Richard Shea.
- MLE expressed disappointment over Chestnut’s decision to represent a rival brand and emphasized their efforts to accommodate him despite the sponsorship conflict.
- Chestnut, feeling “gutted” by the exclusion, learned of the decision through media and stressed his absence does not affect his love for the competition and the celebration.
- Despite the setback, the event is still highly regarded in competitive eating circles, likened to “The Masters” in golf by Shea.
Charles William III – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
