Robert Irwin keeps stealing the show week after week as he competes on Dancing With the Stars, and Tuesday night’s episode was no different. But this time around, it was much more emotional. The theme of this week’s competition was “Dedication Night,” and Robert decided to dedicate his dance to his mom, Terri Irwin, and the “strength” she showed their family after dad Steve Irwin died in 2006.
Terri joined Robert on stage at the end of his dance.
Robert and his partner, pro Witney Carson, danced to Phil Collins’ song “You’ll Be In My Heart.” At the end of the dance, Witney swapped places with Terri on stage so she could join her son at the end of the dance.
Unsurprisingly, Robert received rave reviews from the judges after his performance — and there was hardly a dry eye in the room.
Later, Robert shared how proud he is of his mom.
In an interview with People, Robert said that even though he had to grow up without his dad, his mom “made sure that I never felt I missed out.”
“For so long, all I’ve wanted to do is just express my gratitude to her,” Robert said. “And so, to finally be able to do that in a way where I can give 100 percent of myself physically, emotionally in this dance … is just everything.”
Terri shared her reaction on Instagram.
Commenting on Robert’s Instagram post about the dance, Terri wrote, “Thank you, Robert. I know your dad is so proud.”
Later, she added in a post of her own, “I’m incredibly honoured 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.”
Robert’s sister Bindi also posted about how proud she is of him.
Bindi, her husband Chandler, and their daughter Grace were all in the audience to watch Robert’s dance, and Bindi even joined her family on stage to hug her brother after his performance.
“The most remarkable, moving, healing night. Beyond proud of Robert, Witney and my beautiful mum. I’m speechless,” Bindi later wrote on Instagram.
