WATCH: Xochitl Gomez Returns to ‘Dancing with the Stars’ to Partner Up with Robert Irwin
Credit: Disney/Eric McCandless
A former champion returned to Dancing With the Stars. It just wasn’t the one people thought. On Tuesday, November 11, Robert Irwin and his pro partner, Witney Carson, danced a foxtrot to “Footprints in the Sand” by Leona Lewis. The performance honored Robert’s sister Bindi, who dedicated it to their late father, Steve Irwin.
Due to the emotional nature of the performance, some people thought it might be Bindi coming back to join her brother. Instead, it was the Season 32 winner Xochitl Gomez who joined Robert during the relay round, where contestants teamed up with a former champion.
The fun and charismatic performance, which showcased the pair’s chemistry and talent, had fans swooning. Literally. In fact, even judge Derek Hough couldn’t help but remark on the “chemistry.” The jive relay saw the pair go against Alix Earle and Joey Graziadei, with Irwin and Gomez coming out on top.
For Irwin, that meant two points, which meant he ended up at the top of the leaderboard with Dylan Effron and his partner. And though his sister did not join him for the relay, she did make an appearance after Robert danced the song that honored their father. Clips of a young Robert alongside his father were projected on the ballroom floor, leaving Irwin overcome with emotion. He was then embraced by his pro partner and his sister in a surprise appearance. And oh, yes, he got a perfect score.
The internet had a lot to say about that, but they also had a lot to say about Irwin and Gomez.
“Me screaming “KISS” after robert and xochitl won the relay,” one person wrote on X. Another one said, “ROBERT AND XOCHITL?!?!! I KNOW CHEMISTRY WHEN I SEE IT!!!” And, there was even one who wrote, “If i cant have robert irwin, the only acceptable person who can have him is xochitl.”
Dancing With the Stars Season 34 airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on ABC.