Perhaps there’s still hope after all that Joey Chestnut will take the stage at Coney Island for the annual Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating competition on July 4.
Earlier this week, The Post first reported that the famed hot dog eater was barred from this year’s event over a contract dispute related to him repping another hot dog brand.
But Chestnut expressed that he was “very hopeful” something could be worked out between himself and Major League Eating, which sanctions the Fourth of July tradition, that would allow him to compete.
“I’m very hopeful that things can be worked out,” Chestnut told On3 in his first interview since the news broke. “I’ll be ready if we can get anything worked out. I’ll be hungry.”
Chestnut was taking in Thursday’s WNBA contest between the Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse when he spoke with the outlet.
The 16-time Nathan’s hot dog eating contest champ said he had “no regrets” but was disappointed the situation had become public.
“It’s unfortunate that things — negotiations, contract negotiations — became public,” he said.
MLE had said in a statement earlier this week that it was “devastated” that Chestnut had chosen a rival brand – Impossible Foods – that sells plant-based hot dogs over competing in the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest.
It was a position that an MLE rep reiterated to The Post on Wednesday, pointing the finger at Chestnut and his team for the predicament.
“Joey was not banned. Joey chose not to compete in the contest the moment he chose to make an endorsement deal with one of Nathan’s competitors,” the rep said.
But the potential absence of Chesnut has “gutted” not only the competitor but competitive eating fans everywhere.
Even Mayor Eric Adams bemoaned the idea of not having the sport’s biggest name at the signature event.
“Stop being such weenies! It would be ‘impossible’ to have this year’s Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest without Joey Chestnut,” Adams wrote on X, linking to the paper’s bombshell report.
“Let’s find a way to squash this beef and bring back the champ for another 4th of July at Coney Island!”
While Chestnut’s participation in the Fourth of July competition is up in the air, he will be going head-to-head with another competitive eating legend who had a squabble with MLE, Takeru Kobayashi.
The two legends will face off on Labor Day on Netflix.
“I’m really excited about the Netflix contest,” Chestnut said. “Me and Kobayashi, he’s been my biggest rival forever. I’m just really excited to be able to eat against him again.”
