Robert Irwin Gave Family Warning Before “Spicy” DWTS Performance

One of Robert Irwin‘s Dancing With the Stars routines had his family saying, “Crikey!”

The winner of season 34 surprised his family – including his mom, Terri Irwin, and sister, Bindi Irwin – by dancing shirtless with his partner, Witney Carson, during the TikTok Night episode on September 30th.

Robert playfully revealed on the December 18th episode of Kylie Kelce’s Not Gonna Lie podcast that he had a good reason for keeping his dance moves a secret from his family. He usually gives them a sneak peek at his routines – either at rehearsals or through videos – but this time was different. He explained that the dance included a moment where he takes his shirt off, and since it was a salsa routine, it was a bit risqué.

He explained that he was hesitant to show his family what he’d created, not knowing how they’d react. He decided to take a chance anyway, warning them that it was a bit daring. They initially encouraged him, but later seemed surprised by it.

In the end, the 21-year-old, son of the late Steve Irwin, doesn’t regret taking some risks.

“Life’s too short not to enjoy it,” he said with a smile. “It was a good time, and that’s all that matters.”

He finally won the Mirrorball trophy ten years after his sister’s victory, completing a remarkable family achievement.

Robert really enjoyed his time on Dancing with the Stars, but he hurt his rib near the end of the competition, which almost made him have to stop. Luckily, he’s now recovering well.

He said on Good Morning America on November 26th that progress is being made, even though it’s difficult. He added, ‘No pain, no gain.’

The wildlife conservationist thanked Witney for changing parts of the dance routine to make it easier for him, as he was in pain during practice.

You know, working with Witney was fantastic because she’s so quick on her feet! We really had to adapt and change things up during the competition, but our final freestyle dance was a really special way for me to express my gratitude to everyone who supported me throughout the whole experience. It felt like the perfect thank you to everyone who’d been on this journey with me.

“I’ll heal up, mate,” Robert added. “I catch crocs, I’m used to it.”

Keep reading for more on this season of Dancing With the Stars…