Robert Irwin apologises to mum after shirtless Dancing With The Stars act

Robert Irwin has apologised to his mother for ripping his shirt off during a salsa on Dancing With The Stars. Photo / Dancing With The Stars

Robert Irwin has apologised to his mother for ripping his shirt off on Dancing With The Stars.

The 21-year-old star – whose parents are Terri Irwin and late Crocodile Hunter legend Steve Irwin – sent pulses racing this week when he flashed his six-pack on the ABC dance competition this week, but now he has admitted Terri and his sister Bindi were watching in the studio at the time.

He quipped: “Sorry, guys, sorry about that!”

After his performance, he jokingly said the racy display was simply to give the costume team a break.

He jested: “We thought we’d take it easy on the costume department tonight.

“I said to [dance partner Witney Carson], ‘I want to bring out cool Robert.’

“I was like, ‘He’s in there somewhere. I want to bring him out!’”

The bold performance left the judges stunned, including Carrie Ann Inaba, who light-heartedly told him to get dressed.

She said: “Robert Irwin is all grown up, wow, you’re making me feel like a grandmother.

“Put your shirt back on. Great performance.”

Robert’s family are used to seeing him strip off in public after he posed in his boxers for a promotional shoot with underwear brand Bonds, while he also went shirtless in his Dancing With The Stars announcement.

Robert Irwin posing for Bonds. Photo / Bonds

Speaking on the Not Gonna Lie podcast, Bindi, 26, told host Kylie Kelce: “There are some things as his sister that I can’t just unsee.

“When he did the Dancing announcement, he was shirtless, and when he did his Bonds commercial, he was just in his underwear, and it is… it is rough.”

Despite her embarrassment over her brother’s sudden viral sex appeal, she “really is so proud of him” because of how he is managing to get their message of conservation out there, which is what she is choosing to focus on.

She said: “I really am so proud of him. He’s taking the message of conservation to new heights. He’s really nailing the ‘Hey look over here’, and steering them in the right direction.

“I was probably liking and commenting on his ‘steering in the other direction’ posts. Rather than his um...

“Watching him grab people’s attention in such a big way. And then pivot and say, ‘Here’s what we do, here’s our work, here’s our dedication to wildlife and conservation and you can get involved.’

“It is wonderful and extraordinary to watch him shine.”