Belgian TV personality and environmental activist Julien Quintart, 38, sparked debate after calling out the use of so-called "triple cups" at some restaurants and cafes―then issued two apologies when some said he’d publicly singled out a small business.
On Sept. 22, Quintart shared a photo of a cola from a specialty shop on Instagram, writing, "Wait, not even double cups―now triple cups? Why are we doing this? Overpackaging on top of overpackaging." The drink appeared to be layered with a plastic cup, a paper cup and a sleeve.
Many followers applauded his environmental stance. Quintart has long championed green living―organizing trash cleanups, promoting reusable tumblers and practicing a plant-forward lifestyle.
After the post began trending, the cafe owner messaged Quintart to explain that the store uses extra insulation because its drinks use a type of ice that could melt quickly and alter the taste without a thermal barrier. Online, some commenters argued that while the environmental point stands, publicly pinpointing a small shop wasn’t the right way to make it.
Quintart apologized, admitting he should have contacted the store first or blurred the logo. He said he apologized directly to the owner, emphasized he hadn’t intended to attack any brand and noted that, as a small business owner himself, he understands how tough the industry is.
Even so, he doubled down on the broader issue, criticizing the trend of stacking cups and double sleeves for "aesthetic" reasons, saying it only creates more waste.
Pointing to a roughly 5% recycling rate for single-use items, Quintart added that the burden shouldn’t fall solely on small businesses. He called for a system where government and citizens share responsibility, promised to handle sensitive topics more thoughtfully and again apologized to the cafe shown in his post.
In a second statement, he acknowledged that, as a public figure, his impulsive post could damage a shop’s image and even lead to financial harm. He admitted it was his mistake to pass judgment on the owner’s situation without understanding it fully.
He also shared that the owner responded graciously, inviting a conversation about better solutions―something that, he said, made him reflect even more deeply. Quintart vowed not to publicly single out any individual or business going forward and apologized to supporters for letting them down.
Quintart rose to fame on JTBC’s "Non Summit," now runs an agency representing foreign entertainers in Korea and remains active as an environmental advocate. He’s set to marry his Korean fiancée in October.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)