New York
CNN
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Dynastic sizzling canine consuming champion Joey Chestnut is not going to compete on this yr’s Nathan’s sizzling canine consuming contest after he struck a cope with plant-based meals firm Unimaginable Meals.
“We’re devastated to be taught that Joey Chestnut has chosen to symbolize a rival model that sells plant-based sizzling canines reasonably than competing within the 2024 Nathan’s Well-known Fourth of July Scorching Canine Consuming Contest,” the Main League Consuming group, which oversees the occasion, mentioned in an announcement.
Chestnut received the “Mustard Yellow Belt” 16 occasions, ate a world report 76 sizzling canines and buns in 10 minutes in 2021 and has reportedly made lots of of 1000’s, if not tens of millions, of {dollars} for his aggressive consuming of sizzling canines and different meals.
MLE co-founder George Shea mentioned the corporate tried to accommodate Chestnut and his administration staff, which included permitting him to compete in a rival unbranded sizzling canine consuming contest on Labor Day.
“It’s a long-standing rule to not symbolize a rival model,” Shea mentioned. “Michael Jordan can’t go to Adidas and say that Air Jordans are nice.”
The MLE has additionally emphasised that Chestnut was not banned for all times from competing, citing his 20-year relationship with the league. The group mentioned that to return again Chestnut should surrender offers with manufacturers that rival Nathan’s.
“Joey Chestnut is an American hero. We’d love nothing greater than to have him at Nathan’s Well-known Worldwide Scorching Canine Consuming Contest, which he has dominated for years. We hope that he returns when he isn’t representing a rival model,” the MLE mentioned in an announcement.
An account underneath Chestnut’s name wrote on X Tuesday that he does “not have a contract with MLE or Nathans and so they wish to change the foundations from previous years because it pertains to different companions I can work with.”
CNN has not independently confirmed the authenticity of the X account.
This isn’t the primary occasion of Nathan’s beefing with their winners. Chestnut’s rival and former reigning champion Takeru Kobayashi didn’t compete within the 2010 contest, reportedly attributable to disputes with the corporate over getting him to signal an unique contract.
An Unimaginable Meals spokesperson mentioned, “We love Joey and assist him in any contest he chooses. It’s OK to experiment with a brand new canine. Meat eaters shouldn’t must be unique to only one wiener.”
Joey Chestnut, Nathan’s and its mum or dad firm, Smithfield Meals, didn’t reply to requests for remark.