Featured Image Credit: Don Arnold / Contributor/Lisa Maree Williams / Stringer
Topics: Australia, Steve Irwin, Celebrity, Film and TV
Katherine Sidnell
Topics: Australia, Steve Irwin, Celebrity, Film and TV
Steve Irwin’s son has just made his red-carpet debut with Heath Ledger's niece.
Swapping his cargo shorts for a smart suit, Robert Irwin attended the premiere of the latest Mission Impossible film last night (July 3).
While Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell and Simon Pegg promoted Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning, the 19-year-old attended the event with his girlfriend Rorie Buckley
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For those not in the know, she is the niece of The Dark Knight star, Heath Ledger, and is the daughter of Kate Ledger.
It seems there’s a new Aussie power couple in town, with Robert also being related to Crocodile Hunter star and national treasure, Steve Irwin.
The premiere was their first red carpet appearance together, with the couple wearing matching black outfits.
Last November, rumours of their romance began to swirl with the pair being photographed on Queensland beach together.
Then in December, they were seen meeting Robert’s mother Terri Irwin at the family’s iconic Aussie Zoo.
Speaking about the young lovebirds, Rorie's father Nathan said that he ‘absolutely’ approved of their relationship.
Tragically though, Robert’s father wasn’t present to see his son’s Hollywood debut.
When Steve Irwin passed away in 2006, his sudden loss sent shockwaves around the world.
The titular Crocodile Hunter had been filming in the Great Barrier Reef when he was stung in the chest by a short-tail stingray.
Tragically, the barb penetrated his rib cage and died short afterwards – leaving behind his wife Terri, a then-three-year-old Robert and then-eight-year-old Bindi.
As the 19-year-old now follows in his father’s footsteps, many fans have noticed the striking resemblance Robert has to his late dad.
Having gained a huge following on TikTok, with many of his 19 million followers commenting on the fact.
However, some have called out fans for doing this – saying that Irwin doesn’t need a constant reminder of his loss.
Taking to the video platform, one TikToker @sa99ymaggie summarised the issue in a video and called out others – with the clip being seen over 4.6 million times.
Many agreed with one person commenting: “Facts! Can people just let him live without mentioning his dad every second?!"
Another added: "As amazing as Steve was, stop mentioning that he's dead. He's just showing off animals, he doesn't need the constant reminders."
It seems, however, that Robert is becoming a star in his own right.