NEW YORK — Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, the current champion of Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, will not participate in this year’s event after signing a deal with a rival brand, organizers said Tuesday.
Chestnut, 40, has long been the face — not to mention the mouth — of the competition. He has been competing for the dog butchering contest’s coveted Mustard Belt since 2005 and has won it almost every year since 2008, with the exception of one rare loss in 2015. In 2021, the Westfield, Indiana resident ate 76 sausages and buns in 10 minutes, a recording this still stands.
But Eating at the Major League event organizer George Shea says Chestnut is stepping away from the competition due to a contract dispute.
“We love him. The fans love him,” Shea said, adding, “He made the choice.”
Shea says Chestnut struck a deal with a competing brand — a red line for the Nathan-sponsored event. He didn’t say which brand, but he said The New York Times that Chestnut will represent Impossible Foods, who makes vegan sausages. The company declined to comment.
Shea said the dispute came down to exclusivity, not money.
“It would be like Michael Jordan saying to Nike, ‘I’m going to represent Adidas too,’” Shea said.
Chestnut did not immediately respond to a request for comment made through his website.
The annual bun fight, which dates back to 1972, brings together large crowds of fans in foam hot dog hats in front of the original Nathan’s Famous restaurant in Coney Island, Brooklyn, to cheer on the contestants as they eat. Contestants can dip their dogs in glasses of water to soften them, creating a stomach-churning spectacle.
Those who have vied for second place in the past may have renewed hope of clawing their way to victory this year, including international competitors on the culinary circuit.
Last year’s runner-up was Geoffrey Esper of Oxford, Massachusetts, who killed 49 dogs to Chestnut’s 62. Third place went to James Webb, from Australia, with 47.
This isn’t the first time the pageant has parted ways with one of its biggest stars.
In 2010, the Japanese eating champion Takeru Kobayashi, Chestnut’s then-rival, also stopped competing in the annual bread fight due to a contract dispute with Major League Eating. Kobayashi entered the contest wearing a t-shirt that said “Free Kobi” and was arrested. He was sentenced to six months probation. Kobayashi announced his retirement from the sport last month.
This story originally appeared on ABCNews.go.com read the full story
