Robert Irwin, the 21-year-old celebrity conservationist, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm after he artfully dodged questions about his relationship status with his Dancing With The Stars US fill-in partner, Xochitl Gomez.
On-Screen Chemistry Fuels Romance Speculation
The controversy ignited following a recent episode of the American dance competition, where Robert performed an upbeat jive relay with the 19-year-old Doctor Strange star. Dancing to Olly Murs's 'Dance With Me Tonight', their undeniable connection and energetic performance immediately set tongues wagging, with viewers speculating that their partnership had blossomed into something more romantic.
However, when directly questioned by TMZ about the dating rumours, Robert masterfully deflected. "Oh my gosh, we had the best time, that dance was so much fun. It was so cool to do two such distinct dances," he responded, focusing solely on their performance. He remained tight-lipped when pressed on whether they were 'an item', adding only that the dance was "energetic and fun" and that Xochitl was "the best."
Fan Backlash and Social Media Reaction
Fans were quick to voice their opinions on social media, with many criticising Robert for his non-answer. One user quipped that his response was "The most polite 'mind your business' ever," while another labelled him the "Deflection king." A third observer noted, "I love how he pretends she asked a different question," highlighting his skill at steering the conversation away from his personal life.
A History of Rumoured Romances
This is not the first time Robert's personal life has been under the microscope. Last month, gossip account Deux Moi fuelled speculation that he was romantically involved with DWTS US troupe dancer Hailey Bills. An anonymous tip claimed the 'bachelor' had been "spotted a few times getting cosy with a brunette" who was identified as Bills, a dancer specialising in ballroom, ballet, and hip-hop.
Although neither Robert nor Hailey has publicly addressed these claims, he did share a clip on social media of them performing an energetic street dance together, captioning it "Honorary troupe member." The video showed the pair with clear chemistry, both on and off the dancefloor.
This follows Robert's split from his long-time sweetheart, Rorie Buckey, in February 2024. The pair, who were believed to have been dating since November 2022, had been in a long-distance relationship. As recently as November last year, Robert appeared on the Today show and confessed there was "no one special" in his life, calling his status as one of Australia's 'most eligible bachelors' a challenging one.
