Is it possible to celebrate America without the greatest athlete of all time front and center? This may be the future of our nation thanks to a …(sigh) beef between hot dog eating GOAT Joey Chestnut and Major League Eating (MLE).
Early reports from the New York Post suggested the MLE had banned Chestnut from participating in this year’s Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest — i.e. the event that kicks off your Independence Day with gurgitory greatness. This would be a massive deal.
Chestnut has ascended beyond Michael Jordan status, a champion with no rival. He’s taken home the mustard yellow belt 16 of the last 17 years, emerging as the beef-stained face of competitive eating by hammering down 60 to 70 hot dogs in a 10 minute span and allowing the world to see the limits of peak human performance.
The reason for the alleged ban? Chestnut’s partnership with Impossible Foods, the plant-based meat replacement that made the legendary athlete spokesman for its new vegan hot dogs. Per reports, Chestnut refused to eat the classic Nathan’s offerings and instead wanted to swap in his Impossible franks instead — a trade that could create a clear imbalance between the defending champion and the rest of the field.
Per the New York Post, MLE representatives addressed the issue in a statement:
We are devastated to learn that Joey Chestnut has chosen to represent a rival brand that sells plant-based hot dogs rather than competing in the 2024 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest
…
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. 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.
Later, however, MLE executive Richard Shea — brother to the man behind the most electrifying introductions in pro sports — refuted those statements.
Joey Chestnut is NOT banned from the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, Richard Shea of @eatingcontest tells @NBCNews.
"There is no ban. Major League Eating wants him there. The fans want him there. Nathan's wants him there."
— Greg Rosenstein (@grosenstein) June 11, 2024
Also brought to light in the Post’s report? The fact Chestnut made $200,000 per Nathan’s appearance before even getting to his official winnings ($10,000 for each belt). MLE reportedly offered to bump that in a four-year, $1.2 million contract offer, but was rebuffed by Chestnut’s partnership with Impossible.
This wouldn’t be the first high profile conflict to mar the Fourth of July’s greatest spectacle. Takeru Kobayashi’s refusal to sign an exclusive contract with the league kept the six-time champion out of the competition starting in 2010. Losing Chestnut would open the door for Geoffrey Esper and Patrick Bertoletti to break his string of victories.
There’s still time for the two sides to reach a compromise. We’ll see if MLE caves to the demands of its biggest star or if, somehow, we’ll have an Independence Day without Joey Chestnut’s bun-splattered greatness for the first time in two decades.
