Latest news with #Nathan'sContest
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Joey Chestnut plots shock comeback as he announces massive news after bitter fallout with world-famous eating competition
Legendary professional eater Joey Chestnut is back competing in the sports' biggest event - the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. The Fourth of July tradition, which emanates every year from Brooklyn, New York, has welcomed arguably the best competitive eater ever back into the fold after a one-year ban. Chestnut's partnership with Impossible Foods was the reasoning for the 41-year-old's ban from the competition. Now, bridges have been mended as Chestnut announced his return to the Coney Island classic. 'I'm thrilled to be returning to the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. This event means the world to me. It's a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life,' Chestnut said on X. 'While I have and continue to partner with a variety of companies, including some in the plant-based space, those relationships were never a conflict with my love for hot dogs. To be clear: Nathan's is the only hot dog company I've ever worked with.' 'I respect that there were differences in interpretation, but I'm grateful we've been able to find common ground. I'm excited to be back on the Coney Island stage, doing what I live to do, and celebrating the Fourth of July with hot dogs in my hands! Stay hungry!' Since 2007, Chestnut has won every Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest but two - last year's edition where he was not in the field and in 2015, where he was defeated by Matt Stonie. Chestnut's greatest rival is considered to be Takeru Kobayashi, despite the Japanese legend not competing in the event since 2010. The duo faced off for a final time on Netflix last year in a hot-dog eating competition, when Chestnut out-dogged Kobayashi 83-66. Last year's champion was Patrick Bertoletti, who ate 58 hot dogs in the 10 allotted minutes.
National Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- National Post
Joey Chestnut makes deal to return to hot dog eating contest after being banned
Article content America's long national nightmare is over and the top dog will be back for his hotdog throne. Article content Competitive-eating superstar Joey Chestnut has reached an agreement to return to the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Competition this year after being banned from the event in 2024. Article content Article content The 16-time champion was forced to miss last year's July 4 tradition after getting into a dispute with Major League Eating over a sponsorship deal with Impossible Foods. Article content But after at least a week of talks, the two sides have reached an agreement that will see Jaws return to the event this year on Coney Island, N.Y. Article content 'I'm thrilled to be returning to the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. This event means the world to me. It's a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life,' Chestnut wrote in a post on social media on Monday. Article content I'm thrilled to be returning to the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. This event means the world to me. It's a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life. (1/3) — Joey Chestnut (@joeyjaws) June 16, 2025 Article content The dispute between MLE and Chestnut arose from a deal that the American signed with Impossible Foods, which was launching a plant-based, meatless hot dog product. Article content 'While I have and continue to partner with a variety of companies, including some in the plant-based space, those relationships were never a conflict with my love for hot dogs. To be clear: Nathan's is the only hot dog company I've ever worked with,' Chestnut said. Article content 'I respect that there were differences in interpretation, but I'm grateful we've been able to find common ground. I'm excited to be back on the Coney Island stage, doing what I live to do, and celebrating the Fourth of July with hot dogs in my hands!' Article content Patrick Bertoletti won last year's event in Chestnut's absence, eating 58 dogs and buns to take the Mustard Belt. Article content He'll be in tough to take down the GOAT of competitive eating — Chestnut hasn't eaten fewer than 60 hot dogs at the event since 2010 and holds the record with 76 in 2021. Article content 'The Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest stands as an enduring beacon of freedom for our nation and the world,' MLE chair George Shea said in a statement. 'We look forward to watching the greatest eaters as they compete on a celebrated platform for international sports.' Article content
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.
