WASHINGTON — Eating superstar Joey "Jaws" Chestnut will not compete in this year's Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest after he says he was banned from the event because of his partnerships with other brands.
Major League Eating, which Nathan's sanctions to run the annual event on New York City's Coney Island boardwalk, said in a statement that for two decades it has worked under the same hot dog exclusivity provisions for competitors. It claimed Chestnut, who last year won his 16th title in the competition, signed a deal with a rival brand
“MLE and Nathan’s went to great lengths in recent months 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," Major League Eating said. "However, it seems that Joey and his managers have prioritized a new partnership with a different hot dog brand over our long-time relationship."
In a series of posts on social media, Chestnut said he was "gutted" by the decision, which he learned about through media reporting, and accused the organization of changing the rules from years past.
"I was gutted to learn from the media that after 19 years I'm banned from the Nathan's July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest," Chestnut wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "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."
"To set the record straight, I do not have a contract with MLE or Nathan's and they are looking to change the rules from past years as it relates to other partners I can work with," Chestnut continued. "This is apparently the basis on which I’m being banned, and it doesn’t impact the July 4th event."
The organization disputes the characterization that Chestnut was "banned" from participating. "We want him at the contest. The fans want him at the contest. We love him," Major League Eating said in an e-mail reply.
Chestnut's best finish in the competition was in 2021 when he tallied 76 hot dogs. He hasn't lost in the event since 2015. During the 2022 contest, a spectator rushed the stage and Chestnut put the protester in a brief chokehold before contest officials hurried over and escorted the intruder away.
"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, which he has dominated for years. We hope that he returns when he is not representing a rival brand,” Major League Eating said.
According to the New York Post, Chestnut was paid $200,000 to appear in the contest last year, and was offered a $1.2 million, four-year contract.