The AP is reporting that Takeru Kobayashi, the competitive eating champ was released by a New York city judge this morning, following yesterday’s arrest at the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest on Sunday.

Kobayashi was arrested after he jumped up on stage following the contest, to protest his inability to participate in the contest due to “contractual obligations.” It turns out that Kobayashi has an issue with the contest’s organizer, Major League Eating, which has an exclusivity clause barring him from taking part in other non-MLE events. According to Kobayashi, Major League Eating is “trying to take away my freedom.”

As the crowd chanted “Let him eat!”, a group of security officers tried to usher him off stage. Kobayashi resisted, grabbing onto a metal police barricade, and had to be dragged off down the stairs by security officials.

MLE’s Richard Shea responds, saying the clause has been in place for years and he can’t understand why Kobayashi is only now taking exception to it.

Kobayashi was indicted on charges that included trespassing, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration. He was released without bail pending trial, still wearing his “Free Kobi” shirt that he’d worn when he climbed up on stage. Following his arraignment, Kobayashi was noted as telling reporters: “I’m really hungry. I wanted to eat hot dogs.”

Joey Chestnut, this year’s winner and who earned his fourth consecutive title, said only “I feel bad for him.”

Kobayashi has been an unfriendly rival to Chestnut for years.