Why Joey Chestnut Has Been Banned From the 2024 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

Competitive eating champion Joey Chestnut has been a staple of the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest for nearly two decades now, having won his first title back in 2007. Since then, he's claimed victory at the annual event a total of 16 times, including every year since 2016. He even clinched a world record in 2021 after throwing back an impressive 76 hot dogs.

However, the 40-year-old has been banned from this year's contest due to a deal he made to represent Impossible Foods after the rival brand recently launched a plant-based hot dog.

According to the New York Post, a representative for Major League Eating (MLE), which is sanctioned by Nathan’s to run the event, said that the organizers went to great lengths to accommodate Chestnut’s various demands. He was even given permission to participate in a rival hot dog-eating fest for Netflix to be taped on Labor Day with the contingency that no other hot dog brand besides Nathan's was involved.

Per a source, Chestnut was paid $200,000 to appear in the Nathan’s contest last year, and was reportedly offered a $1.2 million, four-year contract going forward. It's unclear how much Impossible is shelling out, but according to a May 1 press release the company claimed to be the fastest growing plant-based meat brand in the United States in both dollar sales and unit sales, with an expansive network of more than 30,000 retail locations.

In a statement, MLE said that it was "devastated" to learn that Chestnut had chosen to represent a rival brand instead of competing in the contest, which takes place every year on July 4.

"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," the statement read. "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," the statement added. "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."

For his part, Chestnut said that he was "gutted" to learn he had been banned after 19 years of competing.

"I love competing in that event, I love celebrating America with my fans all over this great country on the 4th and I have been training to defend my title," he posted to X on Tuesday evening. "To set the record straight, I do not have a contract with MLE or Nathans and they are looking to change the rules from past years as it relates to other partners I can work with. This is apparently the basis on which I’m being banned, and it doesn’t impact the July 4th event."

"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," he added. "To my fans, I love you and appreciate you. Rest assured that you’ll see me eat again soon!! STAY HUNGRY!"

Impossible Foods likewise issued a statement, writing: ""We love Joey and support him in any contest he chooses. It's OK to experiment with a new dog. Meat eaters shouldn't have to be exclusive to just one wiener."

During his last showing in 2023, Chestnut downed an impressive 62 hot dogs to win the Nathan's title. While that fell 14 dogs short of his 2021 record, if this does indeed end up being the end of an era, at least he went out on top.