Earlier this week, news broke of Joey Chestnut’s ban from the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest. The decision came because he partnered with Impossible Foods, which launched a vegan hot dog made from plants, and Major League Eating said that meant he wasn’t allowed to participate in the Fourth of July staple.
Thursday, for the first time, Chestnut did an interview about the situation. He spoke with On3’s Talia Goodman about the last few days and said he’ll be waiting if things change.
“I’m very hopeful that things can be worked out,” Chestnut said ahead of the Indiana Fever’s game vs. the Atlanta Dream. “I’ll be ready if we can get anything worked out. I’ll be hungry.”
In its statement, MLE said it went to “great lengths” to allow Chestnut to participate in the event and gave him to compete in a contest on Netflix against rival Takeru Kobayashi over Labor Day weekend. A report from the New York Post also said Chestnut received a four-year, $1.2 million offer to continue participating in the Nathan’s contest – which he has won 16 times in 17 years.
While Chestnut said he doesn’t regret anything, he addressed the details of those talks going public.
“Personally, I have no regrets,” Chestnut said. “It’s unfortunate that things – negotiations, contract negotiations – became public.”
While Chestnut’s future in the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest is unclear, a new showdown looms in September. That’s when he’ll square off against Kobayashi for the first time since 2009 when Netflix streams a matchup between the two rivals.
The 2009 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest was Chestnut’s third straight victory in the event after snapping Kobayashi’s six straight wins in 2007. A year later, in 2010, Kobayashi was banned from the event due to a contract dispute and some wondered if he’d eventually retire after setting multiple records. In a statement Wednesday, he said that’s not the case.
With a rematch looming, Chestnut said he’s ready to square off against another top eater.
“I’m really excited about the Netflix contest,” Chestnut said. “Me and Kobayashi, he’s been my biggest rival forever. I’m just really excited to be able to eat against him again.”
Major League Eating’s statement on Joey Chestnut
In its statement earlier this week, Major League Eating confirmed the plans for Chestnut to participate in the Labor Day showdown. However, the organization also said it hopes he comes back “when he is not representing a rival brand.”
“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,” a statement from Major League Eating said. “MLE and Nathan’s went to great lengths 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.
“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 brand over our long-time relationship. Joey Chestnut is an American hero. We would love nothing more than to have him at the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest. We hope he returns when he is not representing a rival brand.”
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