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Joey Chestnut’s latest career move announced as Netflix take on Nathan’s contest in huge live TV eating war
The 16-time Nathan's contest winner won't be appearing at this year's event
COMPETITIVE eater Joey Chestnut is going global with his latest career venture.
The 40-year-old will face off against long-time rival Takeru Kobayashi in a live Netflix special later this year.
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Chestnut is one of the world's most celebrated competitive eaters.
He has made his fortune on the back of his chomping prowess and is a sixteen-time winner of the famous Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.
Chestnut's showdown with Kobayashi will be the pair's first competitive meeting since 2009.
Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef was officially announced by Netflix on Wednesday and will stream on Labor Day, September 2.
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The location of the hot dog eating contest is yet to be confirmed by Netflix.
But the streaming giants have indicated the hot dogs will be all-beef, per the Hollywood Reporter.
Chestnut has reportedly been barred from entering this year's Nathan's contest after signing a deal with a rival hotdog chain.
He went into partnership with vegan brand Impossible Foods, per the New York Post.
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As a result, Chestnut is not eligible to compete in the Coney Island event run by Major League Eating.
"I was gutted to learn from the media that after 19 years I'm banned from the Nathan's July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest," Chestnut wrote on X on Tuesday.
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"I love competing in that event, I love celebrating America with my fans all over this great country on the 4th and I have been training to defend my title.
"This is apparently the basis on which I’m being banned, and it doesn’t impact the July 4th event.
"Sadly, this is the decision Nathan's and Major League Eating are making, and it will deprive the great fans of the holiday’s usual joy and entertainment.
"To my fans, I love you and appreciate you. Rest assured that you’ll see me eat again soon!! STAY HUNGRY!"
Chestnut has won every Nathan's contest since 2016 and last year guzzled 62 dogs and buns in just 10 minutes.
What's the beef?
Joey Chestnut will not be allowed to compete in this year's Hot Dog Eating Contest because of a new sponsorship.
Chestnut has won 16 Fourth of July contests and in 2021 are 76 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.
The hot dog eating competition is run by Major League Eating and sponsored by Nathan's - a famous wiener brand.
And Chestnut has signed a deal with plant-based Impossible Foods.
That makes it impossible for him to now compete in the Nathan's contest, unless something changes.
Chestnut said he was 'gutted' by the news he won't be allowed to defend his title.
"We would never ban Joey Chestnut – we are not banning him," Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest MC George Shea told The U.S. Sun on Tuesday.
"What happened is after 20 years with Nathan's he signed with a rival brand, a plant-based meat brand which is selling hot dogs which runs into a conflict with Nathan's.
"As a result that conflict makes it that he can't [take part on July 4] and that's always been the case.
"We said if you can carve out hot dogs we're all good and they said no," he added.
"It's a conflict for him to represent Nathan's while he is representing another hot dog brand. We love Joey, we want him there. He can come anytime.
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"He can come this year, he can come next year. He just can't come when he is representing a rival hot dog brand.
"We are 100% open to resolving it."