When the TV personality stepped onto the “Dancing With the Stars” stage Tuesday night, he wasn’t just dancing for a score — he was honoring the woman who kept his family strong after tragedy and quietly paying tribute to his late father, Steve.
Robert Irwin, the 20-year-old wildlife conservationist and son of the late “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin, left the “Dancing With the Stars” ballroom drenched in tears after delivering a gut-wrenching performance dedicated to the most important woman in his life — his mother, Terri Irwin.
Robert Irwin is about to perform on the “Dancing With the Stars” ball room, as seen in a video post dated October 15, 2025 | Source: YouTube/DancingWithTheStars
Robert, dancing alongside his partner Witney Carson, chose Phil Collins’ timeless ballad “You’ll Be in My Heart” for their Contemporary routine, a choice that left both the judges and viewers reeling with emotion.
Robert Irwin and Witney Carson are about to perform on the show, as seen in a video post dated October 15, 2025 | Source: YouTube/DancingWithTheStars
“In our hearts forever and always ❤️ Robert and Witney delivered a beautiful Contemporary dedicated to his mom Terri ✨,” the show wrote in a touching Instagram post, capturing the emotional gravity of the moment.
Witney Carson walks towards Robert Irwin as they begin their dance, as seen in a video post dated October 15, 2025 | Source: YouTube/DancingWithTheStars
Fans Demand ‘Justice for Robert’ as a Judge’s Score Sparks Outrage
The emotional weight of the performance sent shockwaves through social media. Viewers flooded the internet with messages of admiration and disbelief over a judge’s scoring.
“The most moving dance I’ve ever seen on this show,” one fan gushed. Another viewer echoed the heartbreak, “This broke me 😭 And then Derek was absolutely right about the world needing the Irwin’s. I am a mess [sic]😭😭😭😭😭😭😭.” Another viewer said, “I absolutely sobbed.”
Robert Irwin and Witney Carson dance to Phil Collins’ timeless ballad “You’ll Be in My Heart,” as seen in a post dated October 15, 2025 | Source: Instagram/dancingwiththestars
But the praise quickly gave way to outrage. Fans took particular issue with one judge’s score, with a person declaring, “Justice for Robert after Carrie Ann gave him an 8. Like what?!?!”
The criticism didn’t stop there — another bluntly wrote, “[sic] carrie ann doesn’t know how to do her job.”
Robert Irwin and Witney Carson dance on the show’s stage, as seen in a post dated October 15, 2025 | Source: Instagram/dancingwiththestars
A Son’s Tribute to His Guiding Light: ‘She Was There, and That Was Enough’
Before taking to the stage, Robert opened up about why this particular performance carried such weight. He admitted, voice heavy with emotion:
“I’ve never been able to capture the feeling of gratitude I feel for her. At every milestone, when I just wish, when I just wish that my dad was there, she was [sic] she was there, and that was enough.”
Robert Irwin and his mother Terri stand on the show’s stage as seen in a post dated October 15, 2025 | Source: Instagram/dancingwiththestars
In a deeply vulnerable confessional, he added:
“I struggle a lot with losing [my] dad a lot. She always made sure my dad was present in our lives. I wanted to know how proud my dad would be of her.”
Terri’s Own Words Bring Viewers to Their Knees
Terri herself joined the rehearsal process and, true to form, brought maternal warmth and devastating honesty. “I’m here to cry,” she joked upon arrival, only to quickly reflect on the crushing grief that defined the early years after Steve’s death.
She added, “After we lost Steve, it was difficult to smile again, for quite [a] while. So for him to say, ‘You lifted me up,’ honestly, it was the opposite. Because of them, I could get up every morning, so every day I’m a proud mama.”
Terri Irwin, her son Robert, Witney Carson, and Alfonso Ribeiro are on the the ballroom floor of the “Dancing With the Stars” show in Los Angeles, California on October 14, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
The sheer vulnerability of their bond, mother and son clinging to love and legacy in the wake of unimaginable loss, was almost too much to bear.
Robert Irwin and his mother Terri are seen leaving “Dancing With The Stars” rehearsals in Los Angeles, California on October 9, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
From Catching Crocodiles to Crushing It on the Dance Floor
Entertainment Tonight praised the performance’s raw emotional power, writing, “Robert Irwin hopes that his dad, Steve Irwin, is proud of his and Terri’s ‘Dancing With the Stars’ performance tonight. ❤️”
The outlet previously spotlighted Robert’s versatility, writing, “From catching crocodiles to rocking rhinestones on the dance floor, Robert Irwin can do it all. 🐊 ✨” This latest performance proved that for Robert, dancing isn’t just performance — it’s personal.
An Unforgettable Night of Dedication, Legacy, and Love
The deeply personal routine took place during Week Five’s “Dedication Night,” where each celebrity paid tribute to someone who shaped their lives. Family and friends filled the ballroom, creating a moving, intimate atmosphere.
Robert Irwin and Witney Carson are captured mid-performance during “Dancing With the Star’s” dedication night, as seen in a video post dated October 15, 2025 | Source: YouTube/DancingWithTheStars
Former pro and two-time Mirrorball champion Kym Johnson joined the judges’ panel as a guest judge. Robert and Witney’s total score? 35 out of 40 — placing them among the top performers of the evening. Yet, the real victory came in the form of tears shed, hearts touched, and a family legacy honored with grace and gratitude.
Robert Irwin‘s dance was more than movement; it was a memory, a tribute, and a cry of love echoing through the ballroom — a reminder that his family’s spirit lives on in every step.
