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Season 34 of Dancing With The Stars concluded with Robert Irwin and Witney Carson taking home the coveted mirrorball trophy. As expected, the wildlife expert and his professional dance partner dazzled audiences and judges alike, making them a standout pair throughout the competition.
This week, Robert Irwin shared his journey on the show during a chat with podcaster Kylie Kelcie. He discussed the significant role his family played during his time on the series and recounted an instance where he needed to give them a special heads-up before a particular performance.
In his conversation with Kylie, Robert revealed that he had warned his family before the TikTok Night episode, where he and Witney delivered a captivating salsa routine. Robert’s pre-performance alert was due to his decision to go shirtless, ensuring his family wasn’t caught off guard by the bold move.
Robert Warned His Mom And Sister About Going Shirtless
Robert confessed to Kylie that he gave his family a heads-up before he decided to go shirtless on the ballroom floor. Ahead of the competition’s TikTok Night, where Robert and his partner Witney performed a swanky salsa, he said he filled his family in so that they wouldn’t be scandalized:
I said to them, ‘So this one’s a little bit edgy.’ And they’re like, ‘Oh, that’s great. Go for it.’ But then afterwards, they were like, ‘Whoa.’
Despite their reaction, Robert said he still felt it was the right call, pointing out that his mother and sister had been part of his rehearsals every week throughout the competition. “[For] every dance that I had done, I would give my family a little preview. They would come to a rehearsal, or I’d show them a video,” he noted. “But then this one, there’s a point in the dance where I remove my shirt, and there’s a lot of—iIt’s salsa, so it’s, you know, it’s a little bit spicy,” he added.
Robert Was Excited To Show Fans A “New Side” Of Him
As Robert continued to discuss his more risqué Dancing With The Stars moment, he shared that he was ultimately happy he decided to perform the shirtless dance. He went on to elaborate that he was eager to show his fans a different part of him, perhaps one that was more adventurous and fun-loving:
I want to show this new side, I want to own this. I want to give it that bit of oomph. I’ve never gotten to do that. I’ve never gotten to just be like, ‘You know, I’m going to be cool. I’m just gonna come and rock this.’ It was fun.
Robert added that his elder sister Bindi was also a big influence on his approach to the competition, reminding him to work hard and make the most of the opportunity. “She said, ‘This experience will change your life.’ Remember why you’re here. Remember what you represent. Remember that passion you have. Remember everything that you’re about. And remember that this experience is supposed to be hard. It’s supposed to be a challenge,” he noted.
As of this article’s writing, it’s unclear what Robert’s next reality TV appearance will be, if at all, but it’s clear that his fans would like to see more of him. The cast for the next season of Dancing With The Stars also has yet to be confirmed.
