What to Know
Before Robert Irwin competed on (and won) Dancing With the Stars last year, he seemed fully dedicated to his work with the Australia Zoo alongside sister Bindi Irwin and her husband, Chandler Powell. But now that he’s had a taste of fame, have things changed? Chandler certainly seems to think so, and a source said that the growing tensions between him and Robert are now really having an impact on Bindi, too.
Chandler is reportedly picking up the slack that Robert left behind at the zoo while he’s out “chasing fame.”
According to what a source close to the Irwin family told the National Enquirer in a story published January 16, Robert trying to keep the momentum going after his DWTS win is negatively affecting the family.
“Chandler feels like Robert has turned his back on Australia Zoo,” the source said. “While Robert is out there chasing fame, Chandler is working non-stop and putting in blood, sweat and tears to keep the Irwin family legacy alive. He’s exhausted.”
Not only is Robert returning to reality TV, competing on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here, but he will also appear at certain dates on the upcoming DWTS tour, which means that he will be away from Australia for extended periods of time this year again, just like he was last year while rehearsing for and filming ABC’s dance competition show.
Robert claims he’s doing it all “for the family.”
Reportedly, Robert doesn’t feel like his new ventures are taking away from the zoo at all — in fact, he seems to believe that it can only benefit his family and their wildlife mission in the long run. There’s just one problem, though: His brother-in-law doesn’t seem to agree.
“Chandler isn’t buying it, though. He’s accusing Robert of going totally Hollywood,” the insider added.
The source also said that Bindi is “really struggling” with the idea that Chandler and Robert are feuding. “Bindi is very protective of her brother. Now it’s affecting their marriage,” the source said.
It seems like all is well according to the family’s recent social media posts, though.
Robert’s recent Instagram posts all seem to point to him spending plenty of his time at the zoo while he can, and on Tuesday, he shared a video introducing his followers to a cockatoo named Occa. Meanwhile, on the same day, Bindi shared a sweet tribute to Chandler on her Instagram feed, writing, “How is it possible to love you more every day, @chandlerpowell? Thank you for being the best.”
Fingers crossed there truly isn’t any truth to these feud rumors. This family is too adorable to be torn apart by something like this!
