Competitive eater Joey Chestnut put a protester in a chokehold during a July 4 hot dog eating contest - and still won
- A protester ran onstage during the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, bumping into Joey Chestnut
- Despite the interruption, Chestnut still won the contest by devouring 63 hot dogs and buns
Competitive eater Joey Chestnut placed a protester in a chokehold in the middle of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest on Monday.
In the middle of the competition, a protester got onto the stage, bumping into Chestnut in the process as he was mid-chew. Unfazed, Chestnut briefly put the protester into a chokehold and threw him to the ground.
Despite the setback, Chestnut easily won the hot dog eating competition, eating 15.5 more hot dogs and buns than the runner-up, Geoffrey Esper.
The protester, who was wearing a “Darth Vader” mask when he interrupted the competition, held up a sign that said “EXPOSE SMITHFIELD’S DEATHSTAR.” He was protesting Smithfield Foods, the supplier of Nathan’s pork.
According to TMZ, police took three people into custody in relation to the incident and charges are pending.
Chestnut did not break his record of devouring 76 hot dogs and buns on Monday, and the violent interruption may not be entirely to blame. The 15-time hot dog eating champion wore a surgical boot during the competition after rupturing a tendon in his leg.
“It hurts, but I was in the zone for a little bit. I was ignoring it,” Chestnut told ESPN after winning the competition.
