“I was devastated”: Joey Chestnut opens up about her 4th of July hot dog contests being banned

Chestnut was unable to participate at this year’s Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.

By Kelly McCarthy

Jul 04, 2024 12:05 AM

 

This Fourth of July, Joey Chestnut will be notably absent from the famed beachside Coney Island Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.

The legendary foodie of all time has spoken out in a new interview regarding the ban he received recently and the way he intends to stay an active participant in the holiday of patriotic celebrations with lots of hot dogs.

The month before, Chestnut announced on social media that he was “banned” from participating in the annual competition, saying that he was informed of the decision to ban him from the event by Major League Eating together with the other participants. Major League Eating said Chestnut was not able to participate due to his affiliation with the hot dog company based on plant-based ingredients Impossible Foods.

According to ABC News reported previously, Nathan’s has for a long time required diners not to endorse another brand when they intend to participate with Nathan’s in its annual contest to eat hot dogs.

“I was devastated to learn in the press that after 19 years, I am no longer allowed to participate in Nathan’s July Fourth Hot Dog Eating Contest,” Chestnut wrote on X at the time, and added “I enjoy competing in this occasion, and I enjoy celebrating America with my friends all across America on July 4th. I’ve been working hard in order to keep my position.”

In the present, the 16-time winner is getting ready to take his skills to Fort Bliss in Texas, where he’ll take part in a five-minute food contest against four soldiers instead for an event that is scheduled to be held on the Fourth of July.

Prior to the event, Chestnut spoke with Sports Illustrated in a candid interview to talk about his hopes for a possible reconciliation with Nathan and his excitement about the event on Thursday.

Joey Chestnut on his reaction to Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest ban

Chestnut stated to Sports Illustrated he was at the doctor when he got the email of a journalist who wanted to know more whether he was a participant in this infamous contest. Then, he received the phone call, which Chestnut claimed he didn’t take.

About “an hour after that,” he said, “there was a small newspaper that said someone had divulged information.”

“It was strange”Joey’s been exiled from working for the vegan hot dog business”” he recalls. “It was just not how I imagined things were going to turn out.”

Chestnut stated that “everything that was part of the Impossible Foods affiliation] was completely in line with my prior agreements. They altered the terms and conditions regarding exclusivity. It’s their first time ever that they’ve altered things after the event, and I needed to tell them, ‘Hey, it’s not too late, I’ve already begun cooperating with this company.'”

Major League Eating claimed in an earlier announcement that both the business as well as Nathan’s “went to incredible lengths in recent months to be accommodating to Joey and the team he manages, including agreeing to a fee for appearances and the right to allow Joey to take part in a similar food-related contest for hot dogs in the week of Labor Day.”

“For more than two decades, we’ve operated under the same hot dog exclusivity rules,” Major League Eating said. “However it appears the case that Joey and his management team have opted for a new alliance with another hot dog brand over our long-standing relationship.”

Chestnut stated to Sports Illustrated that despite the ban, he’s open the possibility of working on behalf of Major League Eating to work with them again in the near future.

“[George And Richard Shea, who run Major League Eatingand Major League Eating, both sent me a short message that basically said that they’re sorry that it turned out to be a mess. One of them suggested that we’ll have a few beers in the near future,” he said. “But there’s nothing wrong with them, it’s just like them and that’s just the way they are.”

He said, “I’m not burning any bridges. I’m loving it I am a huge fan of it.” Fourth of July and that contest. I’m always up for a challenge. I’m not one to hold grudges. Therefore, there’s nothing beyond the realm of possibility.”

What is the place Joey Chestnut will eat his hot dogs for the 4th of July this year

Apart from the broken connection with the hot dog company and the contest, Chestnut was able to secure alternate plans to keep a variant of the tradition going.

“We’re going to be celebrating Independence Day at an Army base and I’ll also take part in the celebrations of the general public’s Fourth of July celebrations. It worked extremely well, and I’m very happy,” he told Sports Illustrated.

“It’s more than a competition,” he added. “A large portion of the mail or letters I receive from people isn’t telling me, ‘Oh my God that you’ve eaten too many hot dogs that it’s unbelievable.’ It’s more like, ‘You’ve been element of the Fourth of July celebrations of mine celebrations for quite a long time.’ This is the best part. I’m participant in people’s Fourth of July celebrations.”

“I enjoy celebrations of with my family and friends on the Fourth of July and I love helping others enjoy this Fourth of July is truly, truly enjoyable,” he added. “And I’m hoping that I can still come up with ways to do this.”