Sponsor battle maintaining Joey Chestnut out of sizzling canine consuming contest

Joey Chestnut, the 16-time champion of the Nathan’s Well-known Sizzling Canine Consuming Contest, is not going to compete within the annual Fourth of July occasion subsequent month, Main League Consuming introduced Tuesday.

A spokesperson for Main League Consuming (MLE) informed ESPN that Chestnut had chosen to “signify one other sizzling canine model” and subsequently wouldn’t be allowed to take part within the Nathan’s contest, which is held yearly at New York Metropolis’s Coney Island.

Chestnut, aggressive consuming’s greatest star who is named “Jaws,” has gained the occasion eight years in a row. He reportedly agreed to a sponsorship cope with Unattainable Meals, an organization that makes plant-based sizzling canines, and a competing firm to Nathan’s Well-known Sizzling Canines.

“It will be like Michael Jordan saying to Nike, ‘I’ll signify Adidas, too,'” MLE occasion organizer George Shea stated.

Chestnut, in flip, issued his personal assertion on X, saying he’s “gutted” to seek out out that he would not have the ability to compete.

“I really like competing in that occasion, I really like celebrating America with my followers throughout this nice nation on the 4th and I’ve been coaching to defend my title,” Chestnut stated in his submit. “… Sadly, that is the choice Nathan’s and Main League Consuming are making, and it’ll deprive the good followers of the vacation’s typical pleasure and leisure.”

Unattainable Meals informed ESPN that they assist Chestnut “in any contest he chooses” and that “meat eaters should not must be unique to only one wiener.”

Main League Consuming stated in an announcement that it was “devastated” to seek out out that Chestnut “has chosen to signify a rival model that sells plant-based sizzling canines.”

“MLE and Nathan’s went to nice lengths in latest months to accommodate Joey and his administration workforce, agreeing to the looks payment and permitting Joey to compete in a rival unbranded sizzling canine consuming contest on Labor Day,” MLE stated in its assertion. “For almost twenty years now we have labored underneath the identical fundamental sizzling canine exclusivity provisions. Nonetheless, evidently Joey and his managers have prioritized a brand new partnership with a distinct sizzling canine model over our long-time relationship.”

In his submit, Chestnut stated he does not have a contract with MLE or Nathan’s, and “they want to change the principles from previous years because it associated to different companions I can work with.”

Chestnut owns the highest 10 performances on the Nathan’s Well-known Sizzling Canine Consuming Contest, together with downing a file 76 sizzling canines and buns in 2021. He ate 62 franks and buns to win final 12 months’s occasion.

“Joey Chestnut is an American hero,” MLE’s assertion stated. “We might love nothing greater than to have him on the Nathan’s Well-known Worldwide Sizzling Canine Consuming Contest, which he has dominated for years. We hope that he returns when he’s not representing a rival model.”

Chestnut thanked his followers and promised that he would not be away from the highlight for lengthy.

“Relaxation assured that you’re going to see me eat once more quickly!!” he posted to X. “STAY HUNGRY!”

The Related Press contributed to this report.