Robert Irwin’s mom, Terri Irwin, is cheering on her son both as a dancer and as a proud mother. In a new interview with Entertainment Tonight, she reacted to Robert’s recent “Dancing With the Stars” performances that had fans talking.
When asked about his hip thrusts and shirtless moments, Terri laughed and said she knew exactly what the dancing involved. “Yeah, well, I knew what the dancing involved. Whitney involved all of that. We did. Early. She said, let’s not waste any time. Get that out of the way,” she said with a smile.
“I am immensely proud,” she added. “But I still see you as this little tiny loaf of bread, toddling around with your chubby little legs. It was so adorable. Oh my gosh, the little leg rolls.”
Robert Dedicates His Next Dance to His Mom
The 21-year-old wildlife conservationist is channeling that bond into his next performance. ABC announced that “Dedication Night” will feature each contestant performing for someone influential in their life. For Robert, that person is his mother.
“It has been an emotional week in rehearsals,” he wrote on Instagram. “I’ve been thinking a lot about my mum and her strength. I’ve been reminiscing on the times we’ve spent as a family and how she has kept my dad part of my life.”
He added, “This dance is for my mum, it’s for anyone who’s lost someone, and it’s for all the strong mothers of the world who deserve our recognition and appreciation.”
A Family Bond That Runs Deep
In his post, Robert shared several heartwarming photos of Terri visiting the dance studio, along with childhood pictures featuring his late father, Steve Irwin, and sister, Bindi. The video was set to an instrumental version of Phil Collins’ “You’ll Be In My Heart.”
Terri commented on her son’s post, writing, “I love you forever and always. Together we are strong.” Witney Carson also chimed in, saying, “So proud of you.”
Fellow DWTS contestant Danielle Fishel added, “I’m in tears — your mom deserves this praise and I know you and Witney are going to crush this contemporary.”
Ahead of the show, Terri posted her own Instagram message filled with family photos and gratitude. “It’s dedication night, week five,” she wrote. “I’m incredibly honored that Robert thought of me. Steve and I always talked about how much it meant to us to be parents. So much love. This will be a special night.”
The official Dancing With the Stars account commented, “We can’t wait for you to shine with Robert on Tuesday!” while fans flooded the comments with messages calling Terri the “world’s best mum” and an “inspiration for women everywhere.”
Robert’s dance, dedicated to his mother, is expected to be one of the most emotional performances of the season.
