Sponsor battle conserving 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) instructed ESPN that Chestnut had chosen to “symbolize one other sizzling canine model” and due to this fact 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 called “Jaws,” has gained the occasion eight years in a row. He reportedly agreed to a sponsorship take care of Inconceivable Meals, an organization that makes plant-based sizzling canine, and a competing firm to Nathan’s Well-known Sizzling Canines.

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

Chestnut, in flip, issued his personal assertion on X, saying he’s “gutted” to search out out that he would not be capable 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 nice followers of the vacation’s common pleasure and leisure.”

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

Main League Consuming stated in a press release that it was “devastated” to search out out that Chestnut “has chosen to symbolize a rival model that sells plant-based sizzling canine.”

“MLE and Nathan’s went to nice lengths in current months to accommodate Joey and his administration group, 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 practically 20 years we now have labored beneath the identical primary sizzling canine exclusivity provisions. Nevertheless, plainly 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 need to change the foundations 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 canine and buns in 2021. He ate 62 franks and buns to win final yr’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 isn’t 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.