The Robert Irwin Interview That Has Australia Crying: His Devastating Truth About Leaving Home For Hollywood Fame
Robert Irwin has addressed whether his growing success in the United States could lure him away from Australia as his international profile continues to soar.
Robert Irwin has ruled out a permanent move to the United States despite his rapidly expanding international career, saying he is not quite ready to become an Aussie expat.
The 22-year-old conservationist said Australia will “always” be his home.
But Irwin insisted his success abroad would not come at the expense of his Australian roots during an appearance on Nova’s Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie on Friday morning.
“I love all my mates in the States, but I’m an Aussie. Always will be,” Irwin said.
Robert Irwin has reaffirmed his commitment to Australia despite his booming international career, declaring he will “always” call the country home. Picture: Kate Berry / Supplied
“I’ll always live here. I get to live in a zoo, mate. It’s pretty awesome.”
Irwin said Australia Zoo remained at the heart of his work despite the many “side quests” taking his career to a much larger global audience.
“There’s a lot of side quests going on now, you know what I mean? But it’s fun, and I bleed khaki,” he said.
“I’m casting this net out wider than it’s ever been, to bring everyone back to conservation, to fun and passion and positivity.”
“Australia Zoo – my heart beats from there, and I’ll always represent my home.”
The comments come as Irwin prepares to host the Logies after his profile soared internationally, with his growing presence in the US opening the door to further opportunities in Hollywood.
The Dancing with the Stars alum said rather than pulling him away from conservation, his ventures into mainstream entertainment provided a platform to take his environmental message to new audiences.
“I’m an environmentalist, I’m a conservationist. That’s who I am,” he said.
“If I am offered an avenue where that message can reach people that would not be thinking about it, like a ballroom in Hollywood or on the stage at the Logies, there’s my chance.”
Irwin said he was determined to continue stepping outside his comfort zone while remaining true to the work that launched his public career.
“Give it everything, grow, change, evolve, but stay true to yourself, try and lift everyone up around you, and don’t listen to the naysayers,” he said.
Asked about his experiences in the US, Irwin joked Americans remained fascinated by Australia’s reputation for dangerous wildlife.
“Everyone in America is like, ‘All these animals can kill you, dude. That’s crazy’,” he said.
“And my job is to say, like, yes, you know, we got crocs, we got venomous snakes, all this. But that’s what makes it cool.”
“We’ve got crocodiles in our backyard.”