Joey Chestnut Drops Bombshell: Unaware Of Ban Until Reports Surfaced

This Fourth of July will look different from previous years as Joey Chestnut, the 16-time winner of Nathan's Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest, won't compete because he has been banned!

Fans find this to be blasphemy -- and Chestnut thinks so, too.

Following the news of Joey Chestnut's ban from Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, the 40-year-old broke his silence, claiming he learned of the news from the media.

Unfortunately, Joey Chestnut, the notorious champion of the yearly July 4th Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, will be absent at this year's event. As The Blast reported, he has been banned due to a contractual agreement to endorse another brand of hot dogs.

According to the New York Post, he made a deal with Impossible Foods, a vegan company that recently launched a plant-based vegan dog. Nathan's and Major League Eating claim this brand is a competitor and, therefore, is against the rules of competing.

"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," Major League Eating told the New York Post. "MLE and Nathan’s went to great lengths 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."

"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," the MLE added.

Joey Chestnut broke his silence, claiming he was "very disappointed to learn from the media" that he was banned from Nathan's Hot Dog Eating contest.

“I was very disappointed to learn from the media today that after nearly 20 years, I am banned from the Nathan's 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest,” he wrote in the caption of an Instagram post. “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.”

The 16-time-winner then slammed Major League Eating for their claims that "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 hot dog brand over our long-time relationship."

Chestnut claims he does not have a contract with MLE or Nathan's, and while that "is apparently the basis" of his ban, it shouldn't "impact the July 4th contest."

“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 claimed in his social media post. "This is apparently the basis on which I’m being banned, and it doesn’t impact the July 4th contest.”

The 40-year-old added, "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 tuned and STAY HUNGRY!"

Impossible, the vegan brand that Joey Chestnut has chosen to work with, spoke out in support of the hot dog-eating champ.

In a statement to People Magazine, an Impossible Foods spokesperson said: "We love Joey and support him in any contest he chooses. It's OK to experiment with a new dog. Meat eaters shouldn't have to be exclusive to just one wiener."

Despite the reports that Joey Chestnut has been banned, Major League Eating's President Richard Shea told NBC News that "there is no ban. Major League Eating wants him there. The fans want him there. Nathan’s wants him there.”

So it is unclear what exactly is going on here, but one thing is for sure -- it won't be Fourth of July without Joey Chestnut shoving hot dogs down his throat.