"Joey Chestnut Excluded from 2024 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest Due to Vegan Hot Dog Deal"

In a surprising turn of events, the 16-time Nathan's hot dog eating contest champion, Joey Chestnut, finds himself barred from this year's competition. The reason? A lucrative four-year, $1.2 million deal he inked with Impossible Foods, a company renowned for its vegan hot dogs, according to reports from the New York Post.

(Julia Nikhinson / AP)

Major League Eating (MLE), the organizing body behind the contest, expressed disappointment over Chestnut's decision to represent a rival brand instead of participating in the 2024 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. Despite efforts to accommodate Chestnut's schedule by allowing him to appear in a rival competition on Labor Day, which will be broadcast on Netflix, the league expressed regret over Chestnut's prioritization of a new partnership over their longstanding relationship.

For nearly two decades, Chestnut has dominated the competitive eating scene, earning the title of the greatest of all time (GOAT). His reign at the Nathan's hot dog eating contest has been nearly unchallenged, with Chestnut winning every year except one since 2007. His record-breaking performance of devouring 76 dogs and buns in 2021 remains unparalleled, cementing his status as a legend in the world of competitive eating.

Chestnut's decision to sign with Impossible Foods comes amidst his impressive list of world records, including consuming 32 Big Macs in 38 minutes, 44 Raising Cane's chicken fingers in five minutes, and 61.5 four-ounce pork roll sandwiches in 10 minutes, among others. Despite controversies, such as the infamous protester incident in 2022, where Chestnut subdued a protester via chokehold mid-contest, his prowess and dedication to his craft have never wavered.

As Chestnut embarks on this new chapter of his career, fans can only speculate about the impact of his absence from this year's Nathan's hot dog eating contest. Will his legacy endure, or is this the beginning of a new era in competitive eating? Only time will tell.

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