Joey Chestnut has become the unquestioned face of the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest over the past several years, but he will not be permitted to take part in the event this year.
Steve Cuozzo of the New York Post reported on Tuesday that Chestnut has been banned from participating in the 2024 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest because of the 40-year-old’s recent decision to sign an endorsement deal with vegan brand Impossible Foods.
A representative from Major League Eating (MLE), which runs the Nathan’s contest, said organizers did everything they could to have Chestnut compete in the event this year and try for a 17th victory. Chestnut was paid $200,000 to compete in the Hot Dog Eating contest last year. MLE had agreed to allow him to compete in a rival competition on Labor Day that will be taped by Netflix, as long as no hot dog brand was mentioned.
Later, Richard Shea of MLE told NBC that he was not banned from competing in the July 4 event.
