NEW YORK — An animal rights activist learned a tough lesson Monday about getting between Joey Chestnut and a plate full of hot dogs as the Major League Eating legend won a record 15th Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest championship in Coney Island.
The protester sporting a Darth Vader mask interrupted Chestnut as he devoured 63 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. The stunt likely preventing the gutsy athlete from approaching his own world record, set last year, of 76 wieners devoured.
Video captured the activist shove the champ aside as he forced hot dogs down his gullet. The activist showed a sign to the cameras reading “Expose Smithfield’s Deathstar” — a reference to Nathan’s supplier Smithfield Foods, according to protest sponsor Direct Action Everywhere.
