Robert Irwin, the 21-year-old son of the late "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin, made a splash on the season 34 premiere of "Dancing With the Stars" (DWTS), delivering a heartfelt tribute to his father. The wildlife conservationist's debut performance on September 16, 2025, was filled with nods to his father's legacy, moving fans and earning high praise from the judges.

Irwin's jive, performed with partner Witney Carson, was set to "Born to Be Wild" by Steppenwolf. The routine began with Irwin perched on a safari-themed Jeep, wearing his father's signature khaki uniform. He even used a pair of binoculars to scan the crowd, mirroring a familiar pose of his dad. At one point in the performance, Irwin ripped off the khaki shirt to reveal a tropical shirt underneath. The performance also included Irwin jumping over Carson and raising both fists in the air, an iconic pose often struck by his father.

The audience, which included Irwin's mother, Terri, sister Bindi, brother-in-law Chandler, and niece Grace, cheered him on. Bindi Irwin won season 21 of "Dancing With the Stars" in 2015. Terri Irwin and Bindi also expressed their pride on Instagram. Terri commented, "I am so proud," while Bindi exclaimed, "CRIKEY!!!!!!!!".

Ahead of his DWTS debut, Robert wore one of his late father's shirts. His mother, Terri, acknowledged this homage on Instagram. Robert had also recently reflected on the 19th anniversary of his father's death, who passed away in September 2006 at the age of 44.

The judges were impressed with Irwin's first dance. Bruno Tonioli called it "absolutely brilliant," and Derek Hough proclaimed it "probably the best first dance I have ever seen on this show". Hough, who was Bindi's partner when she won season 21, told Robert that he didn't just fill Bindi's shoes, he owned them. Irwin and Carson earned a score of 15 out of 20, tying them for the top spot on the leaderboard with Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas. Carrie Ann Inaba was absent from the premiere due to illness.

Irwin told Access Hollywood that he believes his father would have been "stoked" about his participation in "Dancing With the Stars". He hopes to honor his father's legacy by bringing his "spirit, his love for life" to the ballroom. He also said that he never thought he'd continue his family's legacy through dance.

Fans reacted emotionally to Irwin's tribute to his father. One fan uploaded a clip of Irwin striking his father's signature pose to TikTok, writing, "Not Robert Irwin honoring his dad's iconic pose week 1 on DWTS [crying emoji]". Other fans shared similar sentiments, with one writing, "I actually cried when I saw his dance. Steve would be so proud and impressed". Even "Jersey Shore" star Nicole "Snookie" Polizzi commented, "I was hysterically crying".

Despite his success, Irwin remained humble, crediting his partner Witney Carson for his performance. He admitted that he had never moved to music before. Carson, in turn, praised Irwin's hard work, noting that he was competing against experienced dancers and holding his own.