Joey Chestnut skips 2024 Nathan’s Hot Dog Contest due to sponsorship controversy

Joey Chestnut the champion of the annual July 4th Nathan’s hot dog eat competition would not participate this year. According to sources from The Post, he sidelined due to a deal he struck to promote another brand of hot dogs.

But this is not just any brand. It is Impossible food known for their innovative plant based products. They have recently introduced a vegan alternative to the classic hot dog made entirely from plants. So, instead of compete with his usual beef franks Chestnut will be representing this new plant based option.

California born Joey Chestnut has won the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest 16 times dominate the event every year since 2016. In 2021 he set a world record by eating 76 hot dogs. Last year he kept his title by eating 62 hot dogs.

A representative for major League eating MLE the organization that runs Nathan’s hot dog eating contest. He said that they went out of their way to meet Joey Chestnut’s other demands. They even agreed to let him join a rival hot dog eating contest on Labor day. As long as no hot dog brand mentioned. However, they couldn’t allow Chestnut to promote a different hot dog brand.

A source revealed that Joey Chestnut paid $200,000 to compete in Nathan’s contest last year. He also offered a $1.2 million contract for t next four years.

MLE said in a statement we devastated to learn that Joey Chestnut. He has chosen to represent a rival brand selling plant based hot dogs. Instead of competing in 2024 Nathan’s famous fourth of July hot dog eating contest.

“MLE and Nathan’s went to great lengths to accommodate Joey and his management team. They agreed to the appearance fee and even allowed Joey to compete in a rival, unbranded hot dog eating contest on Labor Day.

For almost twenty years, we’ve stuck to a deal where we’re the only ones selling hot dogs in town. But now, it looks like Joey and his team are more interested in teaming up with a different hot dog brand, leaving our long-standing partnership behind.

The event organizers made it clear that Chestnut still has the chance to compete for the Nathan’s championship belt again. The representative expressed admiration for Joey Chestnut, calling him an American hero. They added that they would thrilled to have him participate in the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest.

We’re looking forward to his return when he’s not working for a different brand.