Competitive eater Joey Chestnut to defend hot dog title on July 4 while on probation

Joey “Jaws” Chestnut is set to defend his hot dog eating championship on July 4 despite legal probation tied to a misdemeanor battery case, according to the Associated Press. Chestnut, who has been a dominant figure in the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest, will compete in the July 4 event while subject to probation after he pleaded guilty in Indiana.

The AP reported that Chestnut was accused of slapping a man on the face during a night out at an Indiana bar. His attorney, Mario Massillamany, told The Associated Press that the incident “truly was just a misunderstanding,” and that Chestnut “understood that he wanted to accept responsibility for his actions, and he did.” The AP also reported that Chestnut entered the guilty plea on April 20 and was sentenced to 180 days of probation in Hamilton County.

A judge granted Chestnut permission to travel outside Indiana, allowing him to defend his title and the “Mustard Belt” on Coney Island this summer. The AP reported that Major League Eating, the organization that oversees the Nathan’s Famous contest, said the battery case did not affect his eligibility.

Richard Shea, the co-founder and president of Major League Eating, said in a statement that the altercation did not violate the organization’s code of conduct because it occurred outside any Major League Eating organizational event or activity and was addressed by local authorities. Shea said that “This incident did not violate Major League Eating’s code of conduct” and that it “was addressed by local authorities.”

The Associated Press said the battery plea and probation come after a recent pattern of competition results and sponsorship-related developments. In the Nathan’s contest last year, Chestnut reclaimed the title by eating 70 1/2 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, after he missed the 2024 competition due to a competing sponsorship, the AP reported.

The AP also reported that Nathan’s had temporarily banned Chestnut from competing after he signed an endorsement deal with the plant-based meat company Impossible Foods. More recently, the Associated Press said Chestnut won the 2026 Ultimate Bologna Showdown in Tennessee for a third consecutive year, consuming 16 pounds of sausage in 8 minutes to set a new world record.