This is some hot (dog) drama.
Who would have thought some vegan franks would cause this much uproar on social media?
But I must admit, it’s pretty un-American for 16-time hot dog-eating champion Joey Chestnut to be banned from the July 4th Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Competition. While I understand we live in an age of brand deals, and it’s very ironic for someone who has an agreement with a vegan hot dog company to be shoving glizzies down their throat, not having Chestnut as a contestant does not feel right.
News broke today that the 2024 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest has banned Joey Chesnut after he and the MLE (Major League Eating) could not agree on terms. A spokesperson for the MLE commented that the brand was heartbroken to hear the news of the partnership with the rival company, Impossible Foods, and tried to accommodate Chestnut and his team but could not come to a compromise with the “American Hero.”
“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.”
The news is heavily impacting fans’ hearts, to say the least. Social media quickly erupted with a wide array of emotions surrounding the hot take to ban Chestnut. From confusion about why he would pen the brand deal with a vegan food company after being the face of a meat-eating competition for nearly two decades to hatred towards Nathan’s for making this choice, the sounding board of Twitter (now X) is on fire right now.
The overwhelming consensus is that Joey Chestnut is letting us all down by taking the deal with Impossible Foods and leaving the 4th of July competition high and dry.
Check out some of the reactions.
Watching Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest without Joey Chestnut pic.twitter.com/0vbm2aibkm
— Stream the Vote (@StreamtheVote) June 11, 2024
I AM HEARTBROKEN. JOEY CHESTNUT WHYYYYY pic.twitter.com/vpx6FhBO9L
— ashley🪷 12/8 (@bejeweledosco) June 11, 2024
Found Joey Chestnut's replacement https://t.co/dlBO5LURXL
— Lauren Merola (@laurmerola) June 11, 2024
Everybody blaming Nathan’s here when we should be pissed at Joey for selling out to vegan meat https://t.co/a8RX6Xudw0
— Aaron (@_AaronRyan) June 11, 2024
We as Americans can't stand for our GOAT Joey Chestnut being treated this way. This injustice must be rectified.
— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) June 11, 2024
Annoyingly I’m sick. Rarely happens, but feel like crap all of a sudden. Must be reeling from the Joey Chestnut news.
— Combat Chronicles (@CombatCr) June 11, 2024
Joey Chestnut got poached by Impossible Foods…. pic.twitter.com/tWot440kJb
— Stream the Vote (@StreamtheVote) June 11, 2024
Banning Joey Chestnut from eating hot dogs is the most un-american thing I've ever seen
— Troydan (@Troydan) June 11, 2024
Not eating another @originalnathans dog until Joey Chestnut is back in the competition.
— Jefé Kramirez (@jeffkramer327) June 11, 2024
The Joey Chestnut news has ceased all work in the lab today; I haven’t eaten meat in 20 years but this feels deeply unsettling and dare I say unAmerican
— Holly (@coldandabsurd) June 11, 2024
Joey Chestnut eating plant based hot dogs? What happened to this country
— Elon Ruined This Platform (@HeyImAJ) June 11, 2024
All things considered, this makes Joey Chestnut look bad. His biggest sponsor was Nathan's and if you're banned from the biggest payday of the year, is it really worth it?
— The Son of a Shepherd (@DreamcastDini) June 11, 2024
Joey Chestnut proving no one can go vegan without telling the whole world about it
— Cara C⚾️💙per (@caramariecooper) June 11, 2024
