Latest news with #hotdogeating
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 Reveals Where He Stands With Nathan's Months After Shocking Ban
Joey Chestnut is speaking out once again on his shocking ban from the 2024 Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest, a decision that stunned fans and reshaped one of America's most iconic holiday traditions. In an exclusive interview with The Blast, the 16-time champion opened up about the dramatic fallout with Major League Eating (MLE), which occurred after Chestnut partnered with Impossible Foods, the plant-based brand behind a new vegan hot dog. Joey Chestnut Says He Was 'Surprised' Nathan's Took Offense To His Plant-Based Partnership 'I really didn't think my relationship with Impossible would affect anything with Nathan's,' Chestnut admitted. 'It didn't go against any of my previous agreements.' Advertisement Chestnut explained that his collaboration with Impossible was meant to promote Meatless Mondays, encouraging people who occasionally skip meat to explore plant-based alternatives. 'I eat more meat than anybody,' he said with a laugh. 'But even I take a break on Mondays. And sometimes I still want something that tastes like meat, so that's where plant-based comes in.' Despite the partnership having nothing to do with the annual Fourth of July competition directly, MLE took issue with the move, ultimately leading to Chestnut's exclusion from the contest he's headlined for over a decade. 'I was really surprised they took offense to that,' he said. 'It was for Mondays, for people who aren't even eating meat. I still don't know exactly where our relationship stands.' Joey Says He'd Consider Returning To Nathan's, But Doubts They'll Ask / MEGA As for whether he'd ever return to the Coney Island stage if invited back, Chestnut didn't rule it out. Advertisement 'If they came back with similar terms we were talking about last year, I would definitely consider it,' he said. '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.' Though his future with Nathan's remains uncertain, Chestnut continues to dominate the competitive eating scene, and fans haven't seen the last of him yet. Joey Chestnut Keeps Competitive Spirit Alive After Nathan's Ban / MEGA While his absence from the Coney Island stage marked a major shift in the holiday tradition, the reigning eating champ has kept his competitive edge sharp with a full plate of high-profile appearances and new challenges. Advertisement This past Independence Day, Chestnut went head-to-head with U.S. soldiers during the annual 'Pop Goes the Fort' celebration at Fort Bliss, bringing his signature intensity and crowd-pleasing energy to the patriotic showdown. Earlier in the year, he made waves at the Third Annual Siegel's Bagelmania World Bagel Eating Championship in Las Vegas, adding yet another quirky food feat to his growing list of accomplishments. Now, the 16-time Nathan's champion is preparing for his next big challenge: popcorn. Joey Chestnut Teams Up With Rural King For Popcorn World Record Attempt Teaming up with Rural King, Chestnut will attempt to set a new world record by devouring as much popcorn as possible in just eight minutes. The event celebrates the brand's nostalgic tradition of offering free in-store popcorn to customers, this time, with a competitive twist. Advertisement And for those wondering what happens when he's not competing, Joey Chestnut admits he still craves some good Mexican food, a juicy steak, or, if he's been sticking to his diet, a hearty plate of pasta, especially carbonara. "I've learned that I don't have to be married to one food," he told The Blast. The Undisputed King Of Competitive Eating With 55+ World Records And 16 Nathan's Titles / MEGA Joey Chestnut currently holds more than 55 world records in competitive eating, making him the most decorated eater in the sport's history. Chestnut gained national attention in 2007 when he defeated six-time champion Takeru Kobayashi at Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, ending the Japanese competitor's reign and kicking off his own. Advertisement Since then, he's won the contest 16 times, setting and breaking his own records, most notably eating 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes in 2021. But his dominance doesn't stop there. Joey Chestnut's Record-Smashing Feats Prove He's More Than Just The Hot Dog King Chestnut has devoured 182 chicken wings in 30 minutes, 141 hard-boiled eggs in just 8 minutes, and 47 grilled cheese sandwiches in 10 minutes. He's also made waves with non-traditional challenges, like eating 32 servings of popcorn (each weighing 24 ounces) and smashing shrimp cocktail, bratwurst, and taco records. His unmatched ability to consume massive quantities of food across a wide range of categories has cemented his status as a living legend in the world of competitive eating.
