Competitive reality shows thrive on talent, spectacle, and often, a touch of controversy. Such was the case recently on "Dancing With the Stars," where a poignant performance by Robert Irwin stirred conversation about the delicate balance between authentic emotion and competitive fairness.
Irwin, 21, and his professional partner Witney Carson, delivered a foxtrot that earned the season’s first perfect score. The performance was a heartfelt homage to a previous routine by his sister, Bindi Irwin, from her 2016 season, both paying tribute to their late father, Steve Irwin. The emotional resonance was palpable, culminating in a tearful embrace between Robert and Bindi, 27, on the dance floor.
However, the powerful moment prompted a critical take from actress Tori Spelling, 52. Speaking on the November 13 episode of her podcast, "Misspelling," Spelling questioned whether the presence and emotional impact of Bindi’s involvement provided Robert with an undue advantage.
“You know, I’m big on fairness. Here I go, here we go,” Spelling stated, referencing how on a "Dedication Night," a family member might dance with a partner. "This reminded me a little bit of what happened at the end, when Bindi came out with Robert and Witney. Is that fair to everybody else? You know, I don’t think so.”
Spelling did not dispute the quality of the dance itself. She acknowledged that Irwin and Carson, 32, fully deserved their perfect scores, even "without the Bindi factor." Their routine, she observed, was "flawless," "fluid," and met every requirement.
“I don’t deny that Robert and Witney, even without the Bindi factor, deserved all 10s. It was impeccable," Spelling elaborated. "It was beautiful. Of course, I loved the video of him and his dad and his family, and then Bindi joining him.” She then added a pointed observation: “You know, they got the package with the crocodile. Nobody else got that.”
The Irwin siblings have openly discussed Bindi’s significant influence on Robert’s "Dancing With the Stars" journey. Robert previously shared his immense gratitude for his sister’s experience on the show in a May interview with Us Weekly.
“You have no idea how grateful I am to have Bindi, who went through this experience," he told the outlet. "Not only did she do ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ she won ‘Dancing With the Stars’ and was an incredible light. I remember watching her on that show and thinking, ‘This is the coolest thing in the world.’”
Bindi, for her part, expressed confidence in her brother’s abilities to Us Weekly in the same interview. She praised Robert’s natural rhythm and "higher level of coolness" compared to other family members.
“You can learn to dance, but the genuine passion, dedication, and determination that comes from within, that’s what I think is going to set you apart, because you really are such a good person,” she affirmed. “[Robert is] one of the kindest and most wonderful people I’ve ever met. So he has this. He has nothing to worry about.” She jokingly concluded, “The only thing we have to worry about is him breaking the internet every week.”
