Joey Chestnut overcame a crowded field and an injured right leg on Monday en route to his 15th career win at the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest. He also took down an unexpected obstacle mid-contest in the form of a stage-crashing protestor.
Shortly after downing his 17th dog, protestors stormed the platform dressed in Star Wars garb and holding signs reading “Expose Smithfield’s Death Star,” an apparent protest against pork producer Smithfield Foods. Chestnut was uninterested in being thrown off his stride. Rather than seek the help of event security, he handled the situation himself.