Joey Chestnut Puts Man In Chokehold For Rushing Stage At Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

Joey Chestnut is the reigning defending Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Champion. He won the title after defeating Takeru “Tsunami” Kobayashi by consuming a world record 66 hot dogs in 12 minutes. As Chestnut continues to consume championships, it also appears he’s consuming stage crashers.

During today’s Nathan Hot Dog Eating contest, the reigning champion devoured 76 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. A man in a Darth Vader mask with a sign that read “EXPOSE SMITHFIELD DEATHSTAR” suddenly appeared next to Chestnut. The Hot Dog Eating champ managed to grab the protester by the neck before security dragged the protester away.

TMZ was reportedly told by NYPD that three people have been arrested and that charges are pending. In the footage below, another protester with the same sign is wearing a Star Wars Stormtrooper mask. The sign that the first protester was holding is in reference to an ongoing animal rights campaign in Utah.

The Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest has been held in Coney Island since 1972. It has always been held in conjunction with Independence Day. Joey Chestnut has been the reigning champion of the contest since 2007.

What do you make of this developing story? Sound off in the comments section below.