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.
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