Joey Chestnut Ends Beef With Nathan’s, Returning To Compete

The world-famous aggressive eater has formally settled his dispute with Nathan’s Well-known and confirmed he’ll as soon as once more take the stage at this yr’s Fourth of July Scorching Canine Consuming Contest.

Chestnut was beforehand banned from the 2024 competitors after inking a take care of Unattainable Meals, selling their plant-based scorching canines, one thing Nathan’s noticed as a direct risk to their iconic all-beef product and claimed to be a violation of their contract.

The endorsement deal led to main backlash, with Nathan’s pulling the plug on the long-running relationship simply weeks earlier than the annual occasion.

However now, Joey Chestnut is again, and with buns blazing.

“I’m thrilled to be returning to the Nathan’s Well-known Fourth of July Scorching Canine Consuming Contest,” Chestnut mentioned in an announcement. “This occasion means the world to me. It’s a cherished custom, a celebration of American tradition, and an enormous a part of my life.”

Whereas Chestnut acknowledged his partnerships with firms within the plant-based meals area, he made it clear there was by no means any confusion in his thoughts about the place his loyalties lie. “To be clear: Nathan’s is the one scorching canine firm I’ve ever labored with,” he mentioned. “I respect that there have been variations in interpretation, however I’m grateful we’ve been capable of finding widespread floor.”

That “widespread floor” comes within the type of a brand-new, three-year endorsement take care of Nathan’s and the Worldwide Federation of Aggressive Consuming (IFOCE), which organizes the annual July 4th occasion.

“I’m excited to be again on the Coney Island stage, doing what I dwell to do, and celebrating the Fourth of July with scorching canines in my arms! Keep hungry!” Chestnut added.

He declined to disclose the monetary particulars of the deal however confirmed with USA TODAY Sports that he’s nonetheless collaborating with Unattainable Meals.

George Shea, the founding father of IFOCE and announcer for the Nathan’s contest, confirmed Chestnut is obvious to compete.

“We’re very excited to have Joey again and we imagine that is going to be the perfect contest ever,’’ Shea instructed USA TODAY Sports activities.

For the file, whereas Chestnut was out of the competitors final yr, Patrick Bertoletti claimed the boys’s title by consuming 58 scorching canines and buns in 10 minutes, falling 18 wanting Chestnut’s record-setting 76.

“In the event that they got here again with comparable phrases we had been speaking about final yr, I might undoubtedly contemplate it,” he mentioned on the time. “I’d work with them to ensure there weren’t any conflicts with different sponsors… However actually, I don’t suppose they need to go down that route. And yeah, it’s a bummer. I like that contest.”

The drama started final yr when Major League Eating announced, “We’re devastated to be taught that Joey Chestnut has chosen to characterize a rival model that sells plant-based scorching canines moderately than competing within the 2024 Nathan’s Well-known Fourth of July Scorching Canine Consuming Contest.”

Joey then clapped again, setting the file straight. “I do not need a contract with MLE or Nathan’s and so they need to change the foundations from previous years because it pertains to different companions I can work with,” Chestnut mentioned on the time. “That is apparently the premise on which I’m being banned, and it doesn’t influence the July 4th contest.”