Robert Irwin hits back after fans call out his 'creepy' relationship with mum Terri: 'People forget that loss brings a family together'
Robert Irwin has defended his close relationship with his family.
The 20-year-old zookeeper and TV host hit back at claims his mother Terri was a 'helicopter parent' and that it was 'creepy' they spend so much time together.
Robert said he enjoyed an extremely close bond with his clan following the loss of his famous dad Steve Irwin.
Steve died on September 4, 2006, at the age of 44 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray while filming a documentary on the Great Barrier Reef.
Robert was just two years and nine months old at the time, while his sister Bindi was eight.
'I think loss brings a family together like nothing else... people forget [that],' Robert said during an interview on The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Monday.
'I think when we lost dad, our little tight-knit family unit became incredibly tight. And we travel with the whole family everywhere most of the time. It's nice.'
Robert's close relationship with his mother Terri, 60, has been met with a backlash from fans who think the pair are 'joined at the hip'.
Robert Irwin has defended his close relationship with his family
Terri is often seen with Robert at red carpet events and her public appearances with the popular celebrity conservationist have increased since Robert's shock split from girlfriend Rorie Buckey in February.
Reports later emerged that Terri's opinions of the relationship may have contributed to the break-up.
She also accompanied Robert to South Africa and was on set while he filmed I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! this year. Robert also invited Bindi and his two-year-old niece Grace Warier to join him while filming.
The 20-year-old zookeeper and TV host hit back at claims his mother Terri was a 'helicopter parent' and it was 'creepy' they spend so much time together
Back in April, a producer for I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! expressed concerns for Robert and his ever-present mother.
Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia at the time, the anonymous producer admitted that Terri's presence on set every day was 'a little creepy', saying: 'It is giving "bringing your-mum-to-school-camp" vibes.'
Terri, who has been in charge of Robert and his big sister Bindi's showbiz careers since the death of Steve, apparently kept a close eye on everything Robert did while working on the program.
Robert said he enjoyed an extremely close bond with his family following the loss of his famous dad Steve Irwin. Pictured: Robert on the red carpet with sister Bindi, 25, and his mum, Terri, 60, in May
'The two have an excellent relationship and Terri couldn't be nicer but there are not many situations where employees will have their mum at work with them, just to make sure everything is above board,' the insider said.
'The rumour on set is that Robert has been withholding information from his mum on his dating life, which is pretty standard for most 20-year-old boys,' the source spilled, claiming that 'cracks will continue to appear' if Terri continues to get involved in his love life.
Terri's parenting tactics continued to raise questions among Robert's fans when the pair posed together in multiple images shared to Instagram during their travels overseas in May.
In two of the photos, Terri and her son were pictured beaming for the camera, and some detractors complained the pair are frequently seen together.
'Is Robert and his mother joined at the hip. She is in every pic you see of him,' one person wrote in the comments while another said: 'He's 20 now!'
Last month a TV insider revealed to the Daily Mail Australia that Robert was planning to take to Terri to the 64th annual TV Week Logie Awards on August 18 as his 'special guest'.
Robert split from his girlfriend of two years Rorie Buckey in February. Ever since, his mum's public appearances with the I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! host have increased
It is said producers of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, which Robert hosts alongside Julia Morris, are concerned having his mother, 59, on his arm could 'land with a massive thud with his core fans'.
'The son of the late Steve Irwin is arguably Australia's most talked about "bachelor" in the TV industry and everyone knows he wouldn't find it hard to pull a date. Which is why his decision seems a little odd,' the insider said.
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Robert Irwin and Terri Irwin for comment.
