Coney Island’s wiener war escalates as Nathan’s hot dog eating contest organizer rips Joey Chestnut

Coney Island’s war of wieners escalated as organizers of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest debunked Joey Chestnut’s claim that they were “changing the rules” — leading to the perennial champ getting barred from next month’s barf bash.

Chestnut groaned that he was “gutted” by Major League Eating’s decision to keep him from defending his title because he agreed to become a pitchman for Impossible Foods’ vegan hot dogs, as The Post exclusively reported.

However, the company that manages the annual event for Nathan’s said Chestnut has no one to blame but himself.

“In return for his fees to appear and compete, Joey agreed every single year to a very simple exclusivity provision —  that he would not endorse or sponsor another hot dog brand,” an MLE rep told The Post on Wednesday.

“The idea that Nathan’s or MLE changed the rules  this year is as ridiculous as it is silly.  What company would pay someone an appearance fee of several hundred thousand dollars and knowingly letthem endorse a direct competitor immediately afterwards?”

The rep went on to say: “Joey was not banned. Joey chose not to compete in the contest the moment he chose to make an endorsement deal with one of Nathan’s competitors.”