Chestnut pleads guilty to misdemeanor battery; probation to continue through 2026 contest
Joey Chestnut admitted to slapping a patron in March, citing intoxication and offensive remarks, as his legal team confirms he has taken full responsibility for the incident.
Joey Chestnut, the seventeen-time winner of the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery following an altercation at an Indiana bar in March. According to reporting by US Weekly, Chestnut was sentenced to 180 days of probation after admitting to striking a patron, an incident he attributed to being intoxicated and reacting to offensive remarks made by the other individual.
The charge stems from an incident where Chestnut and a patron exchanged a handshake before Chestnut allegedly slapped the man in the face. Police reviewed bar surveillance footage which showed Chestnut using his right hand to strike the victim. During initial police interviews, Chestnut stated he was "pretty drunk and didn’t remember" the interaction, though he later told officers the slap appeared to be a joke before shifting his explanation to claim he reacted to something the victim said.
Chestnut’s legal team has addressed the incident publicly, with attorney Mario Massillamany confirming the guilty plea to US Weekly. Massillamany stated that Chestnut "took full responsibility for this misunderstanding." A statement from Chestnut’s team expressed regret that the interaction was misinterpreted and noted that while inappropriate things were said, Chestnut regrets engaging in the situation and is committed to avoiding similar circumstances in the future.
The probation sentence will remain active during the July 2026 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. However, it is not expected to affect Chestnut’s eligibility to compete in the event. Chestnut previously missed the 2024 contest due to a sponsorship deal with a different manufacturer but returned to win the 2025 event, consuming 70.5 hot dogs to dominate the competition.
The exact nature of the remarks made by the patron remains unspecified, and the internal consistency of Chestnut’s shifting explanations regarding the altercation has not been independently verified. Despite the legal outcome, the competitive eater is scheduled to participate in the 2026 contest while on probation.
