Fans have already made up their mind, and rightly so! Robert Irwin’s “Dancing With the Stars” debut wasn’t just a performance; it was a breakout moment. The 20-year-old wildlife conservationist lit up the ballroom with his high-energy jive alongside pro partner Witney Carson on September 16, earning standing ovations and glowing praise from the judges.
By the end of the night, fans had already crowned him the frontrunner of Season 34.
Carrying on the Irwin Legacy
Robert’s performance was especially meaningful given his family’s history with the show. His sister Bindi Irwin famously won Season 21 alongside Derek Hough in 2015, and Robert admitted he felt the weight of her legacy.
Judge Hough even noted the pressure, telling Robert, “Listen, you had some big shoes to fill with Bindi, but you didn’t just fill them—you owned those shoes, my friend.”
Judges & Fans Praise His Debut
Derek Hough called Robert’s jive “probably the best first dance I have ever seen on this show.” Bruno Tonioli echoed the sentiment, saying, “Robert, mate, that wasn’t good. It was great!” On social media, fans showered him with support, writing that he danced “like the crocodiles’ lives depended on it” and calling him “a complete natural.”
The moment was made even sweeter when Bindi Irwin cheered proudly from the audience, celebrating her brother’s first dance on the same stage where she won back in 2015.
“We just did that!” Robert exclaimed with a grin to Carson, who previously won season 19 with Alfonso Ribeiro, now serving as cohost.
Judge Bruno Tonioli called the routine “wonderful in the best possible way.” At the same time, Derek Hough, who partnered with Bindi to win season 21, praised Robert for “owning the shoes” of his sister’s legacy.
‘Winner Energy’: Fans React To Robert’s Spectacular Performance
Robert Reflects on His First Dance
Despite the buzz, Robert admitted to E! News that he had done “nothing” to prepare in the four months leading up to the competition. Still, he credited Carson for making the experience “incredible” and called the performance “a childhood dream.” He shared on X after the premiere, “Best night ever! Our first dance was such a blast… and I’m so grateful to get to live out a childhood dream.”
You can catch “Dancing With the Stars” every Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+, with episodes streaming the following day on Hulu.
