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On Tuesday, the world was rocked by the information of Joey Chestnut being banned from the Nathan’s Scorching Canine Consuming Contest over a sponsorship dispute, and the legendary aggressive eater revealed he was simply as blindsided as everybody else whereas responding the the surprising growth.
In 2007, Joey Chestnut introduced his grand arrival on the aggressive consuming circuit by snapping Kobayashi’s six-year successful streak on the Nathan’s Scorching Canine Consuming Contest after shoving 66 of them down his gullet. The game has by no means been the identical since then, as the person often known as “Jaws” has solely misplaced its premier occasion a single time since then whereas securing the Mustard Belt a grand complete of 16 instances.
There was no motive to consider one of the dominant athletes of all time wasn’t going so as to add a seventeenth to his assortment in Coney Island this yr, however issues took a shocking activate Tuesday when Main League Consuming (MLE) introduced he’d been banned from collaborating within the contest as a consequence of his choice to signal a sponsorship cope with Not possible Meals (which produces a plant-based scorching canine that was positioned as a “rival” to the wieners Nathan’s is understood for).
The information sparked a reasonably pathetic gaslighting effort from MLE because of a spokesperson who tried to argue Chestnut wasn’t actually banned however was merely not allowed to take part except he severed ties with the rival model (which is also called a “ban”).
On Tuesday evening, Chestnut responded to the information in a collection of tweets the place he stated MLE didn’t even have the decency to contact him straight earlier than going public with the ban whereas asserting the group (together with Nathan’s) is “trying to change the foundations from previous years” to forestall him from cashing in on his fame.
(1/3)I used to be gutted to be taught from the media that after 19 years Im banned from the Nathan’s July 4th Scorching Canine Consuming Contest. I like competing in that occasion, I like celebrating America with my followers throughout this nice nation on the 4th and I’ve been coaching to defend my title.
— Joey Chestnut (@joeyjaws) June 11, 2024
(3/3) Sadly, that is the choice Nathan’s and Main League Consuming are making, and it’ll deprive the nice followers of the vacation’s ordinary pleasure and leisure. To my followers, I like you and respect you. Relaxation assured that you just’ll see me eat once more quickly!! STAY HUNGRY!
— Joey Chestnut (@joeyjaws) June 11, 2024
You could possibly argue Chestnut owes the 2 events a debt of gratitude when you think about the Nathan’s Scorching Canine Consuming Contest put him on the map, however at this level, I’d argue his presence on the showdown is an even bigger draw than the occasion itself.
Each side nonetheless have just a few weeks to return to some form of compromise, so right here’s to hoping motive will prevail.
