The Nathan's hot dog eating contest on July 4 is one of America's greatest pastimes.
Unfortunately, the 2024 iteration has been spoiled.
Major League Eating announced that perennial favorite Joey Chestnut will not compete in this year's festivities as his pitch for a different dog was too hard to swallow, according to the New York Post.
Chestnut's rotten deal with Impossible Foods has caused MLE not to allow Chestnut to compete in the annual contest.
“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 released in a statement.
Chestnut has won the event 16 times and every year since 2016. He kept his title by taking down 62 dogs last year. His record is 76 dogs in 2021.
The world eating champion may have become too big for the competition. The MLE has hot dog exclusivity provisions with the Nathan's brand, which does not allow competitors to partner with other brands.
MLE paid Chestnut a $200,000 appearance fee in 2023 and was set for a four-year, $1.2 million agreement going forward.
“Joey Chestnut is an American hero," the statement read. "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.”
Chestnut has been a significant favorite at sportsbooks in every iteration of the contest since the legalization of sports betting in the United States. He was -1000 in 2020, -3335 in 2021, -5000 in 2022 and -4000 in 2023.
