Joey “Jaws” Chestnut – the 16-time winner of Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest – won’t be competing this year after signing an exclusive deal with a rival brand, a spokesperson with Major League Eating said on Tuesday.
MLE spokesperson George Shea said his organization was “devastated” to lose the prolific competitive eater.
“We love Joey, the fans love Joey and we wanted him there,” Shea continued.
Chestnut’s rise to fame can be attributed to his repeat wins during the men’s round of an annual hot dog eating competition held by Nathan’s Famous on Coney Island every July 4. Chestnut secured his 16th win at last year’s competition after housing 62 franks – a number still lower than his personal best of 76.
His reputation as a voracious competitive eater has made him a popular name for sports bettors and garnered him fans worldwide.
However, this year will mark the first time in nearly two decades that Chestnut will not be competing after he signed a contract over a rival brand that called for exclusivity – meaning that he wouldn’t be able to compete in Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest next month. MLE did not confirm the identity of the rival brand – although the New York Post reported that Chestnut signed a contract with Impossible Foods and its line of vegan frankfurters.
In a statement, MLE said that the organization – and Nathan’s – “went to great lengths in recent months to accommodate Joey and his management team” which included paying Chestnut an “appearance fee” and allowing him to compete in another hot dog eating contest on Labor Day.
MLE went on to say that “Joey and his managers have prioritized a new partnership with a different hot dog brand over our long-time relationship.”
However, the beef may one day be squashed. In addition to calling Chestnut “an American hero,” MLE said that it hopes that Chestnut “returns when he is not representing a rival brand.”
Both Chestnut and Impossible Foods did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Gothamist.
But in an Instagram post on Tuesday, Chestnut wrote that he learned he was banned from the eating contest via stories in the media.
“To set the record straight, I do not have a contract with MLE or Nathan’s and they are looking to change the rules from past years as it relates to other partners I can work with,” he wrote. “This is apparently the basis on which I’m being banned, and it doesn’t impact the July 4th contest. Sadly, this is the decision Nathan’s and Major League Eating are making and it will deprive the great fans of the holiday’s usual joy and entertainment.”
This story has been updated with comment from Joey Chestnut via Instagram.