Robert Irwin, the 22-year-old Dancing With The Stars champion, has firmly pushed back against persistent rumours concerning his romantic life, openly declaring himself to be 'vanilla' when it comes to matters of the heart. This surprising and candid revelation emerged as the young conservationist attended the Super Bowl over the weekend, where he spoke to Entertainment Tonight.
Private Life Kept Under Wraps
In a somewhat embarrassed tone, Robert told the outlet, 'I keep that side of my life pretty private, but everything's good, life's great.' He went on to mock specific reports suggesting he would be the next star of The Bachelor US, a popular reality dating show. 'I feel like some of the rumours flying around during Dancing with the Stars — like, 'Robert’s gonna be the next Bachelor' — I’m like, oh my goodness,' he remarked, clearly amused by the speculation.
Focus on Conservation Over Celebrity Gossip
Appearing keen to steer the conversation away from further personal scrutiny, Robert emphasised his primary passions. 'I'm a zookeeper. I’m an animal conservationist. That’s my thing. My world is very different from most of the things that are reported on about me,' he stated. Reiterating his point on romance, he added, 'When it comes to romance, I'm pretty vanilla,' a phrase that succinctly captures his low-key approach to dating.
Rumoured Links and On-Screen Chemistry
Robert Irwin has been enjoying heightened national fame in America following his headline-making victory on the US version of Dancing With The Stars last year. During this period, he has been romantically linked to American professional dancer Hailey Bills, 19, and actress Xochitl Gomez, also 19. Xochitl and Robert danced together for the 20th anniversary special of US DWTS, where viewers noted their apparent 'chemistry' on screen during an impressive jive performance.
Xochitl Gomez, who won Season 32 of the show in 2023, served as a special guest on that episode, standing in for Robert's usual dance partner, Witney Carson. Meanwhile, publications like New Idea magazine have recently claimed that Robert is more interested in 'Miss right now' than 'Miss right,' alleging he is too busy 'playing' to find a long-term partner and is 'in no rush to settle down,' keeping his options open.
A Landmark Year and Personal Changes
The past twelve months have been exceptionally significant for Robert Irwin, marked by his Dancing With The Stars win and the recent premiere of a new season of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! In February 2024, he split from his long-time sweetheart, Rorie Buckey. Despite his rising celebrity profile, Robert continues to work at Australia Zoo, his family's Queensland-based conservation park, diligently carrying on the conservation mission of his late father, Steve Irwin.
Looking ahead, Robert expressed excitement about being part of the Dancing With The Stars live show, which is scheduled to tour across the United States beginning this week. This venture represents another step in his burgeoning entertainment career, even as he remains steadfastly dedicated to his wildlife conservation roots.
