Joey Chestnut will defend Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest title on July 4 while serving probation sentence

Joey Chestnut volition beryllium successful Coney Island defending his Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest connected July 4 contempt being connected probation.

Chestnut pleaded blameworthy to a misdemeanor artillery complaint connected April 20 and was sentenced to 180 days of probation successful Hamilton County, Indiana.

However, "Jaws" was granted support to question extracurricular the state, which allows him to enactment successful the lawsuit he’s won 17 times, including this past year, connected July 4 successful New York City. He had antecedently filed petitions to question extracurricular Indiana with the Hot Dog Eating Contest taking place.

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Joey Chestnut wins the men's contention astatine Nathan's Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest successful New York City connected July 4, 2025. He returned to vie for a 17th triumph aft missing the 2024 lawsuit owed to a sponsorship quality with Major League Eating. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)

Chestnut, regarded arsenic 1 of the champion competitory eaters of each time, was accused of slapping a antheral successful the look during a nighttime retired astatine an Indiana barroom astir 2 a.m. connected March 21, per Us Weekly. He aboriginal told authorities that helium was drunk and didn’t callback the enactment with the man.

The antheral besides claimed helium recognized and approached Chestnut portion astatine the barroom and shook his manus earlier helium was slapped connected the near broadside of his face.

JOEY CHESTNUT SENTENCED TO PROBATION AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO DRUNKENLY SLAPPING A MAN AT BAR

"The accused pulled [the victim] forward, moves person and uses his close manus to onslaught [the victim] connected the look with an unfastened hand. [The victim] is observed reacting to the onslaught and moving his caput downward and holding it determination portion the accused stands implicit him and [his friend]," the serviceman said successful an affidavit obtained by Us Weekly. "[Chestnut] moves toward [the victim] again and [the victim] moves distant from the accused.

"The touching was nude, insolent oregon aggravated due to the fact that the open-handed onslaught was nonconsensual to the unfortunate successful a mode that caused symptom portion the accused allegedly utilized provocative connection toward the unfortunate to illicit a reaction."

Chestnut’s attorney, Mario Massillamany, said that his lawsuit took "full work for this misunderstanding," the outlet reported.

Joey Chestnut wins the men's contention astatine Nathan's Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest successful New York City connected July 4, 2025. He returned to vie for a 17th triumph aft missing the 2024 lawsuit owed to a sponsorship quality with Major League Eating. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)

Chestnut volition beryllium going for his 18th rubric successful his past 19 attempts, though helium whitethorn person had different 1 if not for Nathan’s banning him from contention successful 2024. He had signed a woody with Nathan’s rival, Impossible Foods, anterior to the competition.

But Chestnut and organizers of the lawsuit recovered communal crushed connected sponsorships earlier the 2025 contest.

He went connected to devour 70.5 blistery dogs and buns successful the 10-minute timeframe.

Joey Chestnut grabbed a protester by the cervix who interrupted the 2022 Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest successful Coney Island, New York City, connected July 4, 2022. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

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Now that he’s locked successful for the contest, Chestnut should beryllium the overwhelming favorite. He’s besides coming disconnected a triumph successful the 2026 Ultimate Bologna Showdown successful Tennessee, winning the lawsuit 3 years consecutive now. Chestnut ate 16 pounds of sausage successful 8 minutes, mounting a caller satellite record.

Fox News’ Ryan Morik and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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