Sixteen-time Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest champion Joey Chestnut will compete on the Fourth of July despite his recent ban from the annual competition on Coney Island.
Chestnut, 40, will compete against soldiers in a 5-minute hot dog eating contest at the Fort Bliss U.S. Army post in El Paso, Texas, which will also be held on Independence Day, as is the case for the the 10-minute Nathan's contest, the New York Post reports. Earlier this month, Nathan's banned Chestnut, who has won eight consecutive Nathan's championships, from its annual Fourth of July contest due to his recent endorsement of Impossible Foods' vegan frankfurter.
"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 wrote in a thread of posts shared on his X account Tuesday (June 11). "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.
"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. To my fans, I love you and appreciate you. Rest assured that you’ll see me eat again soon!! STAY HUNGRY!"
Chestnut is also scheduled to complete with his longtime rival, six-time champion Takeru Kobayashi, in a winner-take-all hot dog contest streaming live on Netflix on Labor Day (September 2), the streaming service announced on June 12.
"A rivalry simmering for 15 years. CHESTNUT VS. KOBAYASHI: UNFINISHED BEEF — the ultimate hot dog eating competition — will air LIVE on Netflix, Monday, September 2," Netflix wrote on its social media accounts.
Kobayashi, who won six consecutive Nathan's titles before Chestnut's first win in 2007, was previously arrested at the 2010 contest when he rushed the stage in protest over a contract dispute. The Japanese native announced his decision to retire from competitive eating in May due to health issues, but said “retiring for me will only happen after I take (Chestnut) down one last time" in the Netflix release obtained by the Athletic.
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