Just days after realizing he had forgotten to pay his restaurant bills, Robert Irwin made a return visit to clear things up.
The 21-year-old Australian wildlife advocate recently shared a viral video on Instagram, where he casually admitted he left the pier pavilion at Coffs Port without paying for his salads.
Quick to rectify the situation, Irwin returned within five days with a camera crew in tow to film the moment. “I’m a man of my word. I said I’d pay for the salads, so here I am,” he told 7News.
He added, “It went through! We got a click,” tapping his credit card to confirm the payment.
“I definitely paid! I’m here,” he laughed, leaving a sizable tip to the staff.
Since Irwin shared his video recommendation, owners Ben Hemsworth and Kyle Miller noted a 50% surge in customers at the restaurant.
Irwin previously made headlines when he allowed fans to order a $26 harvest bowl during a road trip along the East Coast, but amidst the excitement, he forgot to settle the bill.
“I went there, and there were so many people wanting to say hi and snap a picture. It got a bit chaotic… it escalated quickly,” he recalled.
“The staff made the salad fast, and I made sure to greet everyone. Then, the next morning, I realized I hadn’t paid! I basically did an old meal-and-dash without even recognizing it. I felt bad about that.”
Afterward, Irwin reached out to the restaurant to rectify the issue. “They said, ‘Don’t worry, just leave us a good review.’ I told them, ‘I’ll do better for you!’”
With 8 million followers on Instagram, Irwin encouraged them to support the pier pavilion, saying, “They’re truly the best.”
“I’m not starting a life of crime today. As much as tabloids might enjoy that storyline, I’m here to support everyone,” he insisted.
In light of the incident, the owners are considering naming the salad after Irwin.
