Robert Irwin received a sweet surprise from actress and former “Dancing with the Stars” champion Xochitl Gomez ahead of the season 34 finale.
The 21-year-old wildlife enthusiast was joined by his sister, DWTS season 21 winner Bindi Irwin, their mother Terri, and Xochitl Gomez, 19, who brought a big bouquet to greet him outside his trailer. Photos of the moment were shared by TMZ.
Gomez, who won Season 32 of DWTS with her partner Val Chmerkovskiy in 2023, also supported Robert backstage and watched him rehearse for his final freestyle performance.
Their bond grew after Xochitl joined Robert during his 20th birthday celebration on the Nov. 11 broadcast. The two paired for the Relay Dance round and performed a jive to Olly Murs’ “Dance with Me Tonight.” Judges noted the pair’s chemistry, with Derek Hough commenting on their connection and Witney Carson giving a knowing look, sparking fan speculation about a potential romance.
Earlier in the season, Witney Carson shared on Instagram that she was receiving a flood of messages from fans wanting to date Robert. “Girls, I love ya, thank you for the applications through somehow my email and flooding the DMs,” she wrote. She joked about lining up fans with Robert and added, “Robert for The Bachelor?! Idk this is too stressful for me to handle lol!”
Robert has also spoken openly about his hopes for a relationship. In an interview with PEOPLE, he shared, “My mom and dad met when she was this American tourist coming over to Australia, and that’s also how my sister met her husband. I’ve been saying, when is that going to happen for me?!”
Reflecting on dating under public scrutiny, Robert told The New York Times on Nov. 23 that it is challenging, especially when “anything you do will be on TikTok the next day.”
Fans have closely followed Robert’s journey on DWTS, celebrating his growth as a performer and enjoying his interactions with Xochitl. Their supportive friendship, shared dance moments, and recent gestures like the flowers have fueled excitement about what might develop between the two stars.
The DWTS finale promises a thrilling conclusion to the season, with Robert Irwin receiving strong support from family, friends, and fans alike. The surprise from Xochitl added an extra layer of excitement and warmth ahead of his final performances.
