World champion competitive eater banned from hotdog contest over vegan sausages

People are very upset to miss the ‘glizzy king’ gobbling frankfurters on television (Picture: Getty/Impossible Foods)

The ‘Michael Jordan of competitive eating’ has been barred from taking part in a famous hot dog scoffing contest, apparently because he made a deal to promote vegan sausages.

Joey Chestnut, 40, holds the world record for eating hot dogs and has a huge fan base who love watching him shovel in the food on televised sporting events.

For those who haven’t heard of him, a quick recap: he’s a superstar in the world of face stuffing, and has regularly dominated a popular event called Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest.

His disappearance from this year’s schedule has caused outrage, with many saying there is no point even watching if their king of hotdogs, the standout favourite to win, won’t be there.

The exact reason seems to hinge on that fact that he accepted a deal to promote a rival brand of sausages.

Not only sausages, either, but vegan ones reportedly made by Impossible Foods, though they have not confirmed or denied the deal.

Joey Chestnut during the weigh-in ceremony for 2023’s Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest (Picture: Reuters)

Chestnut, known to fans as ‘Jaws’ and the ‘Glizzy King’ has won 16 out of the last 17 contests, held annually on July 4 and an American institution since it was founded in 1916.

Responding to the news, fan Jacob B wrote: ‘How can the most infamous glizzy gobbler be banned from gobbling glizzys?’

‘Glizzy’ originated in US rap culture as slang for Glock handguns, but has since morphed to refer to hotdogs too.

Chestnut, from Westfield, Indiana, wrote on X: ‘I was gutted to learn from the media that after 19 years I’m banned from the Nathan’s July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest.

‘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!’

While taking part in the contest in Coney Island, New York, participants wear a t-shirt branded ‘Nathan’s’, referring to the American hot dog company.

According to reports, it is the fact that Chestnut struck a deal with a rival brand that led to him being cut out from the contest.

A source told ESPN: ‘Imagine if Michael Jordan said to Nike, “I love being the face of Nike but I want to do commercials for Adidas too”.’

But Chestnut, who broke the world record by eating 76 hot dogs and buns in 2021, said he didn’t have any contract with Nathan’s or the company screening the contest.

Better buy big if you ever invite him to a BBQ (Picture: AP)

Major League Eating (MLE) said in a statement: ‘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.

“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.’

This isn’t the first time the contest has parted ways with one of its biggest stars.

In 2010, Japanese eating champion Takeru Kobayashi also stopped competing due to a contract dispute with Major League Eating.

He crashed the contest in a T-shirt reading ‘Free Kobi’ and was arrested – and fans are still bitter at being deprived of the rivalry between the two big beasts of hot dog consumption.

Impossible Foods didn’t comment on the deal they reportedly struck with Chestnut, but said ‘meat eaters shouldn’t have to be exclusive to just one wiener.’

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