NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest champ Joey Chestnut stopped eating wieners and buns mid-competition Monday to place an animal rights activist in a headlock, video shows.
Chestnut, 38, was furiously devouring the July 4 staple when the activist rushed the stage in a Darth Vader mask and bumped into him while holding up a sign.
Chestnut—who was wearing a medical boot due to a tendon injury—reacted immediately, putting the man in a headlock and tossing him aside to security before returning to eating and ultimately winning the competition.
A second protester in a Stormtrooper mask was also seen further back on stage.
Both protesters had signs that read, “Expose Smithfield’s Deathstar.” It’s a reference to Smithfield Foods, the pork producer that counts Nathan’s Famous among its brands.
The animal rights group Direct Action Everywhere later took credit for the protest, saying in a press release, “The ‘Deathstar’ reference compares the villainous megaweapon from the Star Wars film series to the largest factory pig farm in the country, which supplies Nathan’s hot dogs.”
The NYPD told TMZ that three people were taken into custody with charges pending. Direct Action Everywhere also confirmed that three activists were in custody on unknown charges.
Chestnut has now won the Coney Island eating competition 15 times. He didn’t manage to break his all-time record of 76 hot dogs, set last year, but he still downed 20 more hot dogs than the runner-up.
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