Wildlife conservationist and television personality Robert Irwin has directly responded to swirling speculation about his mother, Terri Irwin, potentially competing on the hit show Dancing With The Stars. This comes fresh from his own triumphant victory on the US edition of the series alongside professional partner Witney Carson.
The Family Dance Floor and a Firm 'No'
Robert, who clinched the glitterball trophy last week after a nail-biting finale, had previously shared the stage with his mother in a special guest performance during the season. The touching routine fuelled fan hopes that Terri might one day become a contestant herself. However, Robert has now clarified the situation in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
"Listen, the petition to have my mum on Dancing With The Stars has begun, and I started it," Robert stated. He went on to reveal her reaction: "I started this season, and she is firmly like, 'Nope, I'm not doing it. That's not for me!'" Undeterred, the determined son added, "And I'm like, 'well, I'm gonna wear you down,' so let's wear her down and get her on there, because I think she would be great."
A Triumphant Win and a Family Social Media Pact
Robert and Witney's victory was hard-fought, emerging victorious from a competitive field that included social media influencer Alix Earle, Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles, actor Elaine Hendrix, and Dylan Efron. The final leaderboard saw Robert and Jordan Chiles tied in second place with 89 points, just behind Alix Earle's 90. The win was ultimately secured through a combination of judges' scores and public votes.
The discussion of family dynamics follows a recent revelation from Terri herself. On The Apple and The Tree podcast, the 61-year-old widow of the late Steve Irwin disclosed an informal family agreement regarding social media. She explained that neither she, Robert, 22, nor her daughter Bindi, 27, posts anything online without first getting approval from the others.
Describing herself humorously as a "boomer," Terri said she relies on her children to prevent her from making "dumb" mistakes. "As a family, we still bounce off each other with everything," she told hosts Richard Wilkins and his son Christian. "Like none of us ever post on social media without running it past the other one." She gave an example, noting they might warn her, "Oh, you can't do that with your hands. It looks like a gang sign."
Proud Mum Faces Thirsty Backlash
This family filter proved its worth recently when Terri, a proud mother, faced an unexpected reaction to an innocent post about Robert. In October, she shared a photo praising his Dancing With The Stars success and his Australia Zoo activewear. "Perfect for working out, dance rehearsals, or looking too cool!" she wrote.
The post was quickly flooded with complimentary comments from fans, many focusing on Robert's appearance. One user wrote, "You feel like an upsettingly hot distant cousin. Your dad helped raise millions of us," while others simply called him "so handsome." The incident highlighted the intense public scrutiny the family navigates and underscored the wisdom of their collective social media strategy.
Through it all, from dance competition wins to managing online fame, the Irwin family continues to present a united front, supporting each other's endeavours while carefully curating their public presence.
