Legendary competitive eater Joey Chestnut will still compete in his signature event, Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest, on July 4, despite being on probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge.
Chestnut, 43, was sentenced to 180 days of probation on April 20 after being accused of slapping a man in the face during an altercation at an Indiana bar, Us Weekly exclusively reported on Monday, May 18. A judge, however, has granted him permission to travel out of state to New York, where the contest is held annually.
Though he can travel, Chestnut cannot purchase any firearms and must submit to random drug and alcohol testing, Us reported on Tuesday, May 19.
Major League Eating President Richard Shea said the incident “did not violate Major League Eating’s code of conduct, as it occurred outside any organizational event or activity and it was addressed by local authorities,” according to ESPN.
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Chestnut was accused of slapping a man with an open hand after the two exchanged a friendly handshake in March, an affidavit obtained by Us revealed.
“The accused pulled [the victim] forward, moves closer and uses his right hand to strike [the victim] on the face with an open hand,” the report stated. “[The victim] is observed reacting to the strike and moving his head downward and holding it there while the accused stands over him and [his friend]. [Chestnut] moves toward [the victim] again and [the victim] moves away from the accused.”
The document continued, “The touching was nude, insolent or angry because the open-handed strike was nonconsensual to the victim in a manner that caused pain while the accused allegedly used provocative language toward the victim to illicit a reaction.”
“Joey regrets engaging and the interaction being misinterpreted,” a rep for Chestnut told Us. “He strives to always connect in a fun manner with fans. In this case, some inappropriate things were said that Joey reacted to. He’s committed to avoiding being in those situations going forward.”
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His attorney, Mario Massillamany, added: “My client took full responsibility for this misunderstanding and resolved the matter by pleading guilty to a lesser-included offense of Class B misdemeanor battery, one of the lowest-level misdemeanor offenses under Indiana law.”
The judge’s ruling clears the way for Chestnut to return to the contest he has won 17 times, including in 2025 when he downed 70 ½ hot dogs and buns in just 10 minutes. It was a triumphant return after he was banned from the event in 2024 due to a competing sponsorship with a plant-based meat brand.
His most recent competitive eating win came on May 9, when he achieved a three-peat at the 2026 Ultimate Bologna Showdown in Tennessee, setting a world record by eating 16 pounds of sausage in eight minutes.
