Why ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Fans Think Robert Irwin May Be Dating a Troupe Member
What To Know
- Dancing With the Stars fans speculate that Robert Irwin may be romantically involved with a troupe member connected to one of the pros.
- The rumors began after a live show interaction and intensified with the pair’s social media posts.
- Viewers have mixed reactions about the possibility that the two are dating.
Dancing With the Stars has launched plenty of romances over the years, and some fans think there might be a love story brewing on Season 34. Robert Irwin has been getting flooded with DMs amid his time in the dance competition, but many fans think he’s already secretly seeing someone from the show.
The rumored love interest in question is somebody in the troupe, a group of dancers who perform in between numbers and as background dancers within the competitive dances during the live shows.
Fans started speculating early in the season that Irwin might be dating Hailey Bills, a new troupe member this year who is actually the niece of longtime pro Jenna Johnson. The buzz began during an early episode when Bills was in the skybox as Irwin received his scores and reacted excitedly to his success.
@carterrrw our newest troupie?! squad goals fr 🤌🏼🔥 @Robert Irwin @hailey @onye @Jax @Dancing with the Stars #DWTS #fyp #dancingwiththestars #troupe ♬ original sound – throwbacks
After seeing the reaction shot go viral, Bills posted a now-deleted TikTok that said, “Taking notes on what faces to make in the skybox from now on.” She also included the hashtags #dwts and #wildlife, which many took to reference Irwin’s work as a wildlife conservationist.
Recently, the rumors intensified when celebrity gossip site DeuxMoi posted a blind item that seemed to reference a possible romance between Irwin and Bills. “Everyone’s favorite DWTS bachelor has paused his search for his American dream girl to have some play time beyond the ballroom,” an anonymous user wrote. “My sources tell me he’s been spotted a few times in ****** **** getting cosy with a brunette…the same one he follows around on set. Notice how she’s the only troupe member he follows on ig?”
Irwin then dubbed himself an “honorary troupe member” in a video posted to his Instagram Story on October 27. The clip, which originated on Carter Williams’ TikTok page, showed him dancing with Bills and the other three troupe members.
Disney/Eric McCandless
“Robert and hailey are definitely dating,” one person commented. Someone else wrote, “Robert and Hailey super cute together!!” and another person added, “Totally ship Hailey and Robert 💙.”
However, many other commenters also pointed out that Irwin is of a similar age to the troupe dancers, which is likely the reason why he’s been hanging out with them so much. “Why do yall put pressure on 2 young people. If hailey and Robert date cool if they don’t then cool. Let them both live,” someone wrote. Another person said, “All the shippers leave them alone.”
Dancing With the Stars, Season 34, Tuesdays, 8/7c, ABC
For a more extended celebration of two decades of Dancing With the Stars, from exclusive interviews to retrospectives and must-see photos, pick up a copy of TV Guide Magazine’s Dancing With the Stars 20th Anniversary special issue, available for purchase online at DWTS.TVGM2025.com and on newsstands now.
