Crikey! Dancing With the Stars just revealed their first season 34 cast member, and fans are buzzing with excitement. Wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin—the son of the late Steve Irwin and Terri Irwin—is officially set to join the ABC competition series for its upcoming season. Robert made the exciting announcement at Disney Entertainment Television’s Get Real Event on April 22. The 21-year-old, who recently caught attention starring in a Bonds underwear campaign, will be swapping his signature khaki gear for some dancefloor-ready attire. Interestingly, he’s not the first Irwin to compete on the show. His sister, Bindi Irwin, famously won the Mirrorball Trophy back in 2015, alongside her dance partner Derek Hough, during season 21—an achievement she still finds surreal.
“It still doesn’t feel real,” Bindi shared in a joint interview with Entertainment Tonight in May 2024, sitting beside Robert and their mom Terri. Turning to her brother and mother, she added, “I think you guys would shock yourselves with how good you would be.” During that same conversation, Robert revealed he had been contemplating the idea for a while. “I’d give that a go. Yeah, I’d give it a go. I’d do it,” he said with a smile, hinting at his growing interest.
Robert’s journey to the dance floor wasn’t just a personal decision; it was also something fans and even past contestants had been hoping for. Professional dancer Rylee Arnold, who placed fourth in season 33 with gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik, had voiced her desire to see Robert on the show. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight in May, the 19-year-old recalled watching Bindi Irwin dance when she was just 8 years old. “I remember thinking, ‘Robert’s my age. He has to be on the show one day for me,’” she said. Rylee even encouraged everyone to “manifest it together,” and now it seems their collective wish has come true. The rest of the cast for season 34 will be announced at a later date.
While Robert was enthusiastic about joining Dancing With the Stars, not every celebrity has been as eager. Over the years, plenty of famous faces have either turned down offers or had to decline due to scheduling conflicts. One such case was Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys. Although he eventually competed in season 21, he revealed to E! News that he had been approached “for like 4 to 5 years in a row.” Nick explained, “Unfortunately, and fortunately, I was on the road touring and working on albums with the Backstreet Boys. Now that there was a break, I finally had the chance to do it.”
Bindi Irwin herself almost missed out. Though she dazzled in season 21, she was first approached during a hectic period. “We were in the middle of a crocodile research trip,” she told E! News, noting how thrilled she was that it ultimately worked out. Another potential competitor, Demi Moore, reportedly came close to joining the season 21 cast after her daughter Rumer Willis won season 20. However, sources told E! News that Moore decided against it.
Other big names have also said no. Caitlyn Jenner, as revealed by former champ Alfonso Ribeiro, turned down an invite to compete, opting not to follow in the footsteps of Kim Kardashian and Rob Kardashian. Similarly, Lindsay Lohan was reportedly approached for season 16 but declined. Paula Deen, the controversial celebrity chef, said no twice before finally agreeing to join season 21. “They did ask me,” she said during a 2010 interview with Extra. “And I said no.”
Saved By the Bell star Tiffani Thiessen also passed on the opportunity. She told The Huffington Post, “I’ve been asked a few times, but I’m an actor, not a dancer.” Celebrity chef Bobby Flay revealed that he turned down the offer too, joking to Zagat that he didn’t want to “be known as that guy on Dancing With the Stars.” Plus, his then-wife, Stephanie March, warned she’d divorce him if he joined—and while they’ve since split, he never competed.
Geraldo Rivera also reportedly turned down the show but did say yes to appearing on Celebrity Apprentice. Kirstie Alley, who eventually became a fan-favorite in the ballroom, initially said no, tweeting that she was “too chicken” to dance. CBS This Morning host and Oprah Winfrey’s close friend Gayle King turned the show down three times, stating, “I think it’s good to keep my public humiliation to a minimum. I would never want to embarrass my children…or myself! I can’t dance.”
Actor Ricky Schroder also declined, despite producers asking Alfonso Ribeiro to reach out on their behalf. Alfonso shared that his friend simply said, “Eh, I don’t dance!” Academy Award winner Jamie Lee Curtis has firmly vowed never to join Dancing With the Stars unless a significant charitable component were involved. “I’d only do it if they gave me a million dollars to donate to charity,” she told E! News.
Queen Latifah also put rumors to rest in 2011 by tweeting, “No truth to the rumors of me doing Dancing With the Stars. Love the show though so I’ll be watching just like you!” Although she hasn’t competed, Queen Latifah has made guest appearances on the show.
With Robert Irwin stepping up to join the DWTS family, season 34 promises to bring excitement, fresh energy, and maybe even a little wildlife charm to the ballroom. Fans will be eagerly waiting for more announcements, but one thing’s for sure: the dance floor is about to get a lot more adventurous.
