Photo: NexGen
A protestor wearing a Darth Vader mask and carrying a sign that reads "Expose Smithfield Deathstar" interrupted this years Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. He knocked into competitive eater Joey Chestnut who promptly pulled the masked man into a chokehold until security was able to pull the man away. Chestnut then turned his focus back to the competition and won with a whopping 63 dogs and buns eaten.
According to Direct Action Everywhere, the Death Star sign was comparing the Star Wars Mega Weapon to Smithfield Foods, the largest pig farm in the US and partner of the contest. Animal rights activists were protesting the treatment of the pigs at Smithfield, whose farms have been surrounded by controversy. An investigation of their farm uncovered sick, dead, and diseased piglets lying in their mothers feces. They also found injured adult pigs. Smithfield has also been accused of worker abuse and pollution. According to VOX, the company issues a statement claiming they would make their meat more humane after it was revealed that they use gestation crate son mother pigs.