Robert Irwin hit back at people complaining about his relationship with his mum Terri Irwin, remarking that ‘people forget’ how loss can bring families together.

Terri, 60, is the mother of Robert, 21, his older sister Bindi Irwin, 26, and the widow of beloved Australian zookeeper and conservationist Steve Irwin.

Known affectionately as The Crocodile Hunter, Steve’s life was dedicated to educating the masses about wildlife and running Queensland’s Australia Zoo.

On September 4, 2006, the Aussie died after a stingray barb struck him in the heart, causing him to go into fatal cardiac arrest at age 44.

Following the death of her husband, Terri raised their two children as a solo parent and continued managing Australia Zoo.

Now, she, Robert, and Bindi all work at the institution together, with the American-Australian often accompanying her son on his various media duties, including working on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here.

Robert Irwin has said the loss of his father Steve Irwin has brought his family closer together (robertirwinphotography/Instagram)

Previously, a source close to the programme complained that the mother-of-two’s constant presence behind the scenes was a little bit creepy’.

“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 alleged insider told Daily Mail Australia.

Hitting back at the claims and the idea that the pair were ‘joint at the hip’, Robert said having a close relationship with his mother was ‘nice’.

“I think loss brings a family together like nothing else… people forget [that],’ the zookeeper said during a 2024 taping of The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

“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.”

The zookeeper called his mother the ‘most influential’ person in his life (robertirwinphotography/Instagram)

Last year, Robert also appeared on Osher Günsberg’s Better Than Yesterday podcast where he called Terri the ‘most influential human being’ in his life.

“I don’t think I realised just how tough that was until you get a few years under your belt, get a little bit of perspective under your belt and you start to go: ‘Wow, mum lost dad’.

“Your life partner. Then at the same time you’re navigating raising two kids – an eight-year-old and a three-year-old – and this empire of conversation, of positivity, of all of that.

“And through everything she had this stoic, sharp as a tack determination within the business to keep what dad felt most passionate about alive.”

Robert confessed he hopes his next partner is American (Bonds)

Robert, who remarked his mother was always ‘100 percent there’ for him and his older sister, Bindi, added: “She is without a doubt the most influential human being in my life.”

Robert has recently made headlines after admitting he wants to meet and fall in love with an American partner, just like his father and Terri in 1991, and his sister and Chandler Powell.

“I’m single. It’s funny, I’m at this point in my life where I’m like, I’m so open to that, but I’m just waiting for the stars to align,” he told People.

“Everyone met here at our wildlife sanctuary and on both instances, they were American tourists that were coming over and visiting the zoo.

“I’m waiting for that American tourist to come into the zoo and for it all to happen!”

Featured Image Credit: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images