Hot Dog Scuffle: Eater Takeru Kobayashi Freed: "Let Me Eat!"

The hot dog eating former champion Takeru Kobayashi was freed from jail Monday. He was arrested after he took the stage after Joey "Jaws" Chestnut was declared the winner. Japanese eating champion  Takeru Kobayash was arrested at the Coney Island eating festival after he was grabbed by security.

The eating champion was hungry, and pleaded not guilty. This was just mishandled by the police at the annual Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest. 

The Los Angeles Times reports he said, “I was there as a spectator, just to cheer on my buddies,” he said through an interpreter outside court Monday. Fans chanted for him, and “in the heat of it, I jumped on the stage, hoping they would let me eat.”

The fans were cheering for him saying "Let him eat!" The judge allowed Kobayashi on stage. Then, security grabbed him and dragged him away. Kobayashi fought back and was arrested.

Kobayashi,refused to sign a contract with Major League Eating. He has a blog where he says he just wants to eat, and he doesn't want to sign a contract, so he didn't participate.

Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, who won the event downed 54 hot dogs in 10 minutes.

Chestnut said, “I feel bad for him.” I feel bad for him too. Takeru Kobayashi really wanted to participate, but he didn't want to sign a contract that he doesn't agree with. This is America, and we need a hot dog eater from Japan to remind us that particpation in events shouldn't be controlled by a contract.

This was shameful on the part of organizers. I don't condone violence, but I do think Kobayashi was defending himself. He was grabbed from behind and fought back. This was just  a fiasco. I think the security guards acted inappropriately. What do you think? Do you agree with the Major League Eating folks or Kobayashi?