This hot dog news from Coney Island is hard to accept.
Joey Chestnut, a perennial winner of the annual Nathan’s hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July, is avoiding vomiting beef this year due to a contract he signed to represent another wiener brand, The Washington Post has learned.
And it’s not just any brand, Impossible Foods recently launched a knockoff vegan frankfurter made from plants.
The California native has won the Nathan’s event 16 times, having won every year since 2016. In 2021 he defeated a world record 76 dogs and defended his title last year by defeating just 62.
A representative for Major League Eating, the organization that sanctions Nathan to run the event, said organizers did their best to accommodate Chestnut’s various requests. Organizers even allowed Nathan to take part in a rival Labor Day dog-eating festival taped by Netflix, on the condition that he not name the hot dog brand.
But he said he would not allow Chestnut to pitch for other dogs.
Sources said Chestnut was paid $200,000 to compete at Nathan’s last year and has been offered a contract worth $1.2 million over the next four years.
“We are deeply disappointed to learn that Joey Chestnut has chosen to represent a rival brand selling plant-based hot dogs rather than compete in the 2024 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest,” MLE said in a statement.
“MLE and Nathan’s went to great lengths to accommodate Joey and his management team, agreeing to an appearance fee and allowing Joey to participate in a rival, unnamed hot dog eating contest on Labor Day.
“We have worked under the same basic hot dog exclusivity agreement for nearly 20 years, but it appears that Joey and his managers have prioritized a new partnership with another brand over our longstanding relationship.
“Joey Chestnut is an American hero and we would love nothing more than to have him participate in the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest. We hope he will return once he is no longer representing a rival brand.”
Neither Chesnut nor his representatives immediately commented.
