Robert Irwin is facing renewed online criticism after a years-old crocodile encounter returned to the spotlight. The TV clip shows Steve Irwin’s son making a rapid exit when a powerful reptile ignores its food and charges toward him.
Why Robert Irwin is facing backlash over a controversial TV appearance
Newsner reported that viewers revived calls to have Robert Irwin canceled after footage of his close encounter with Casper, a saltwater crocodile at Australia Zoo, circulated again. The clip first aired in 2022 during the Season 4 finale of “Crikey! It’s the Irwins” and later appeared during Robert and Terri Irwin’s interview on Australia’s “Today.”
In the footage, Robert enters Casper’s enclosure for a feeding demonstration. The crocodile looks past the food and runs toward him, prompting Robert to repeatedly shout, “Bail!” He and the other handlers quickly leave the enclosure without suffering injuries.
Robert later explained that handlers must know when to end an interaction. “Safety for us is also crucial, and you definitely have to know when to call it,” he wrote on Instagram. He added that Casper’s speed and power gave the team “no choice but to bail.”
The Robert Irwin TV clip divided viewers, with some critics questioning the use of crocodiles in such demonstrations and accusing the zoo of provoking animals for entertainment. “When will they learn? This is sad. For a show, was it worth it?” one viewer wrote, while another added, “This is just wrong. Make Robert STOP!!!”
However, others defended Robert, arguing that the handlers followed their safety training and that the presentation helped educate visitors about crocodile behavior and conservation.
The renewed Robert Irwin backlash does not stem from a new incident. Newsner’s July 24 report revisited criticism originally documented in 2022, so claims that a recent TV appearance suddenly triggered the controversy need that context.
Robert has continued working with crocodiles at Australia Zoo. He recently panicked when a bird moved dangerously close to a crocodile, but he safely guided the bird away. He has also described being “death-rolled” by another crocodile during wildlife research.
The conservationist has said working with crocodiles makes him feel closest to his late father. That connection helps explain why he continues the demonstrations, although the resurfaced video shows that not every viewer agrees with the Irwin family’s approach.
The report did not cite a new response from Robert. His 2022 statement remains his clearest explanation: The encounter became dangerous, and the team ended it immediately.
TELL US: DO YOU THINK THE CRITICISM OF ROBERT IRWIN’S CROCODILE DEMONSTRATION IS FAIR?
