Here's Why Joey Chestnut Is Banned from 2024 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest After 16 Wins

justjared.com:

Joey Chestnut is best known as the longtime winner of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, but he is not allowed to defend his title in 2024.

The 40-year-old competitive eater has won the contest 16 times in the past, including every year since 2016. Major League Eating is commissioned by Nathan’s to organize the contest every year and the organization confirmed that Joey is banned from competing this year due to a conflict of interest. Keep reading to find out more… “We are devastated to learn that Joey Chestnut has chosen to represent a rival brand that sells plant-based hot dogs rather than competing in the 2024 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest,” MLE told The New York Post. “MLE and Nathan’s went to great lengths in recent months 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,” the statement continued. “For nearly two decades we have worked under the same basic hot dog exclusivity provisions.

However, it seems that Joey and his managers have prioritized a new partnership with a different brand over our long-time relationship. 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. We hope he returns when he is not representing a rival brand.” The New York Post reports that Joey was paid $200,000 to compete in the 2023 contest.