Latest news with #competitiveeating
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Joey Chestnut reveals July 4 plans after bitter fallout with Nathan's over iconic hot dog contest
Joey Chestnut would be open to competing in this year's Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest - though he doesn't expect to be asked back amid his ban from the competition last year. Chestnut, who's won the famous July 4 event 16 times, did not compete last year in Coney Island due to his partnership with Impossible Foods, a plant-based food company which sells vegan hot dogs. And while the legendary competitive eater would be happy to discuss a return to the competition, he's not holding his breath. 'If they came back with similar terms we were talking about last year, I would definitely consider it,' he told The Blast. 'I'd work with them to make sure there weren't any conflicts with other sponsors… But honestly, I don't think they want to go down that route. And yeah, it's a bummer. I love that contest.'' Chestnut added to the publication that he 'didn't think' his deal with Impossible would have any impact on his eligibility for the Nathan's contest, which he first won in 2007. He also said that his partnership with Impossible Foods was merely to promote 'Meatless Mondays,' when he skips eating meat. 'I still don't know exactly where our relationship stands,' he said. Nonetheless, Major League Eating said at the time that it was 'devastated' by Chestnut choosing his Impossible Foods partnership over competing in the Nathan's competition. 'MLE and Nathan's went to great lengths to accommodate Joey and his management team, agreeing to the appearance fee and allowing Joey to compete in a rival, unbranded hot dog eating contest on Labor Day,' they added in a statement. '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, which he has dominated for years. We hope that he returns when he is not representing a rival brand.' A source told the New York Post that Chestnut was paid $200,000 to appear at last year's contest, and was even offered a $1.2 million, four-year deal beginning this year. MLE's Richard Shea insisted to NBC News that there was 'no ban,' though that contradicted what Chestnut said himself last year. 'I was gutted to learn from the media that after 19 years Im banned from the Nathan's July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest,' Chestnut said in a post to X. 'I love competing in that event, I love celebrating America with my fans all over this great country on the 4th and I have been training to defend my title. 'To set the record straight, I do not have a contract with MLE or Nathans and they are looking to change the rules from past years as it relates to other partners I can work with. 'This is apparently the basis on which I'm being banned, and it doesn't impact the July 4th event. While Chestnut looks unlikely to be involved in this year's July 4 contest, he is attempting to set a popcorn eating record on Monday. He wrote on Instagram that he'll be attempting to eat 34 servings of popcorn in eight minutes, with each serving amounting to 24 ounces. Chestnut is doing the event from a Rural King supermarket location in Indiana.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Joey Chestnut Swaps Hot Dogs For This Salty Snack In Memorial Day Comeback
Competitive eating legend Joey Chestnut is switching gears from hot dogs to something a little lighter, but just as challenging. Popcorn. Ahead of his next competition, The Blast caught up with Joey Chestnut, who opened up about the unique prep, the physical toll, and why popcorn might look easy, but isn't. Joey Chestnut Says Popcorn Challenge Is All About Rhythm Raising Cane's/MEGA 'Popcorn, it's easy to eat a lot of it. It's just hard to eat it quick,' Chestnut explained. 'The quick is the trick. I gotta find the right rhythm with drinking the water and controlling my breathing.' Advertisement Chestnut revealed he's been practicing and even broke a record in one of his prep sessions. 'I've gotten three practices in, and one of them I was able to break a record,' he said. 'I'm hoping that I can duplicate that.' But success, he says, hinges on staying calm. 'Sometimes it's easy to get excited, and I try to do things to get to the next step a little bit quick. So I gotta take big handfuls, control my breathing. I took a big handful, and I tried to breathe through my nose, and inhaled popcorn,' he laughed. 'It's relearning how to eat popcorn.' Butter, Burps, And The Last Two Minutes The physical demands of eating mass quantities of popcorn might be different from hot dogs, but they come with their own challenges. Advertisement 'I've had to learn to get comfortable swallowing a ridiculous amount of popcorn in my mouth at one time and trying to swallow it with a sip of water,' Chestnut said. 'I convince myself it's mostly air. Once it gets into my stomach, I get a couple big burps sometimes. I have to be careful, make sure that nothing comes out.' He added, 'The last two minutes are always the hardest. My body's like, 'What are you doing to me?' I'll be covered in butter and sweat, and that's when I look my worst, but that's when I need to do my best.' Joey Chestnut Explains How He Stays Mentally Sharp And The Recovery Process Instagram | Joey Chestnut Despite his years of experience, Chestnut admits he still gets nervous. 'Absolutely nervous. I want to do well,' he said. 'If I let the nerves take over, I don't do well. I just stay calm, breathe, and go one step at a time. It's just like a mental game.' Advertisement He also relies on the crowd to push him through the final stretch. 'I feed off the energy of the audience. They're going to be yelling at me. That helps. It's hard, but it's fun.' When it comes to post-contest recovery, Chestnut says popcorn is far more forgiving than other events. 'With hot dogs or bratwurst or bologna, I'm bloated for a day and a half. But this one will be pretty cool. It's easy on the body.' However, there is one competition you won't catch him at. 'There used to be a raw oyster eating contest in New Orleans,' he said. 'I always used an excuse like, 'Oh, I'm getting ready for another contest,' so I can't do that one. But really? The texture, the oversaltiness… it would get to me. So I've stayed away.' Joey Gears Up To Attempt Popcorn World Record Live In 2022, Chestnut shattered the previous popcorn-eating record by downing 32 servings, each weighing 24 ounces, surpassing the former mark of 28.5 servings set in Las Vegas the year before. Advertisement Now, this Memorial Day, the competitive eating legend is heading to Rural King in Terre Haute, Indiana, for a record-breaking spectacle you won't want to miss. The Memorial Day Popcorn Challenge will take place at 4651 South US Highway 41, where Chestnut will attempt to break his own official world record for popcorn eating. Joey Chestnut To Devour Popcorn And Delight Fans At Rural King's Family-Friendly Memorial Day Event Instagram | Joey Chestnut The event runs from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, with food trucks, live music, and family games leading up to the main attraction at 1:00 PM, when Chestnut takes center stage. 'This event is about bringing fun to our communities,' Phil Reiter, Rural King Vice President of Marketing and E-commerce, said. 'Our free popcorn has always been a fan favorite, and partnering with Joey Chestnut, the best in the world, is the perfect way to celebrate that tradition.' Famous for his 16 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest wins and more than 55 competitive eating world records, Chestnut is ready to see how much popcorn he can devour in just eight minutes.
