Joey Chestnut will not compete in the 2024 Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest on Thursday, to the disappointment of fans, casual viewers and the man himself.
The 16-time champion broke his silence about his ban, which stems from an endorsement deal he has with Impossible Foods, and provided his side of the story in an interview with Sports Illustrated's Emma Baccallieri published Tuesday.
Chestnut alleged that the organizers of the Nathan's contest, Major League Eating, changed the terms of his agreement around endorsing other products, which they have done in the past.