We Don’t Care If He’s A Nepo Baby—Robert Irwin’s DWTS Glow Up Is All We Can Talk About
Over the last few years, the world has had a lot to say about nepo babies—the famous children of other famous people—but there are some celebrities that transcend the label. Some younger, newer additions that remain beloved is Jack Quaid, Cooper Hoffman, and Margaret Qualley, to name a few. And now we have a new name to add to the list: Robert Irwin.
To be fair, the Irwin family has always been beloved, even more so after Steve Irwin’s sudden passing in 2006. Since then, his children, Bindi and Robert, stepped up to fill in his shoes and pass on his legacy of conservation and wildlife education, winning over the hearts of… well, basically everyone.
But now that they’re adults, the siblings have been stepping into the spotlight in new ways—specifically, by competing in Dancing With The Stars.
Bindi appeared on the 21st season of the dancing competition, going so far as to win the crown, and now, 10 years later, she’s passing the gauntlet to her brother—and there’s a very good chance he’s going to dance in his sister’s footsteps all the way to number one.
Robert is easily one of the fan favorites of the show, and it’s easy to see why—not only does he radiate the same likable charm that his father always did, but he’s definitely gone through a major glow-up that has just about everyone doing a double take.
Fine, okay, I’ll say it plainly—Robert Irwin is hot now. If it wasn’t obvious before, it sure is now that he’s unashamedly ripping off his shirt on stage.
Still, even though he’s full of bravado on stage, it’s clear that Robert (and his sister, for that matter) will always be beloved, at least in part to the connection they still have with their late father. It’s their passion for saving the world—and all the creatures within it—mixed with their humble and polite personas that make it easy to forgive them for the original sin of being born from a famous person. Maybe it helps just a little more that said famous person, Steve Irwin, was just as lovable—even his stardom couldn’t make us shake the feeling that he was relatable and compassionate.
Even just on Dancing With The Stars, we can’t help ourselves from believing tthe Irwins deserve to be the underdogs that rise up and win it all. Because no, I don’t watch the show, but yes, I will continue to watch ever Robert Irwin clip that shows up on my social media feed anyway. I can’t help it! He’s too likable (and okay, fine, yes, hot) to have it any other way.
So just this once, let me do the honor: Robert Irwin, we are overlooking your Nepo Baby status once in for all. Maybe it helps that you’ve never tried to hide it or pretend to be anything else than the son of the late great Steve Irwin, and for that, we can only ever love you more.
