Robert Irving Opens Up About the Surprising Family Fallout from His Controversial Underwear Shoot
Robert Irwin—yes, the same fearless kid who once chased crocs in khakis—has boldly swapped his signature wildlife garb for something a tad more… revealing. Picture this: 21-year-old Robert, surrounded by snakes, spiders, and lizards, sporting nothing but underwear in a striking campaign for Aussie icon Bonds. A nature-meets-lifestyle mashup, sure—but here’s the kicker: while fans went wild (pun intended), Robert’s family found themselves staring at images they “can’t unsee.” Now, balancing a legacy as mighty as his late father Steve Irwin’s with carving out his own unique spotlight isn’t exactly a walk on the wild side—it’s more like an all-out safari in briefs. So, what was the family’s unfiltered take on Robert’s daring pivot from documentary darling to underwear model? Spoiler: it’s as fascinating as the campaign itself.
LEARN MORERising media personality Robert Irwin—son of former TV personality and conservationist Steve Irwin—made headlines last month after trading khakis for briefs in a bold new campaign with Australian underwear brandBonds.
The 21-year-old has now revealed what his family thought of the ad, in which he posed shirtless, clad only in underwear, with snakes, spiders, and lizards as part of the campaign’s nature-meets-lifestyle aesthetic.
- Robert Irwin posed shirtless in underwear surrounded by native wildlife for Australian brand Bonds’ new nature-themed campaign.
- Robert’s family reacted with mixed feelings, saying the underwear shoot was something they ‘can’t unsee.’
- The campaign ‘Made for Down Under’ marks Bonds’ push into the US market and coincides with Robert’s Dancing With The Stars debut.
While the campaign was received positively by fans for a variety of reasons, Irwin’s family weren’t so thrilled about it, a fact that Robert made clear during a candid interview with US Today.
Robert Irwin revealed the less-than-excited reaction of his family after they saw him modeling in his underwear
Image credits: TODAY
“They were like, ‘Wow, there’s some things we can’t unsee,’” he said. While Robert made the comment laughing, he nevertheless acknowledged that his modeling work was seen as a departure from his usual wildlife documentary work by his family.
Image credits: Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Robert then explained how the partnership with the underwear brand came to be, describing it as a “wonderful” opportunity due to Bonds’ status as “our massive iconic underwear company in Australia,” he said.
Image credits: robertirwinphotography
The campaign, ingeniously named with a double entendre “Made for Down Under,” is part of Bonds push into the US market, and coincides with the 21-year-old’s upcoming appearance on the the upcoming season of Dancing With The Stars in the country.
Image credits: robertirwinphotography
The images captured him surrounded by native wildlife—snakes wrapped around his shoulders, a spider crawling across his arm, and a lizard nestled in his hands—all while modeling the brand’s signature briefs.
Robert is trying to balance creating a new identity with honoring the legacy of his father
Image credits: robertirwinphotography
While the concept may have caught his family off guard, Irwin embraced the project as a way to cement his own brand, combining his passion for conservation with a contemporary twist.
Image credits: robertirwinphotography
“I’ve dedicated my life to conservation, to carrying on an important legacy, protecting our animals,” he said, explaining how he and the brand worked on the idea together.
“They said, ‘We want to showcase that, but you’re gonna be in your undies.’ So I said, ‘You know what? Let’s do it.’ Life’s about just embracing it.”
Image credits: Australia Zoo/Getty Images
Robert said he was satisfied with the experience, describing it as “fun” and an opportunity his father would’ve also been likely to take.
“He showcased what it was to live 110 per cent and he was larger than life, so enthusiastic,” he said, committing himself to honoring his legacy.
Image credits: terriirwincrikey
“At his core it was all about conservation and it was all about family,” Robert added. “That really is what he was about. He was the best dad in the entire world and I feel like his legacy has never been more important.”
The campaign was positively received, but some fans felt uncomfortable after seeing the 21-year-old’s pictures
Image credits: terriirwincrikey
With a growing media presence, a prominent new fashion campaign, and a slot on Dancing With The Stars, Robert Irwin seems to be striking a balance between honoring his father’s conservation legacy and forging his own distinctive path.
“I mean, he was talking about our changing world, our changing climate before a lot of people were before it was mainstream,” he added. “And so, it is a real honour, it is an honour of a lifetime to make sure everything that he lived for, that passion can continue.”
