Daily Voice
By Cecilia Levine From Daily Voice
“Dancing With the Stars” crowned Robert Irwin and Witney Carson as Season 34 champions, but the Mirrorball win quickly sparked a fight amongst fans.
Moments after the announcement Tuesday, Nov. 25, comments rolled in claiming Irwin “didn’t deserve to win,” with some viewers insisting finalist and New Jersey native Alix Earle should have taken the trophy instead (click here to watch all of the dances from the "DWTS" finale).
One comment on the show’s TikTok page read: “Alix got robbed I hate sympathy votes.”
Other users argued Irwin’s finale dances looked “flat,” adding fuel to a debate that spread across social media within minutes of the broadcast.
But Irwin and Carson delivered some of the night’s strongest scores, earning a 29 for their Judges’ Choice quickstep, followed by a perfect 30 for their Instant Dance cha cha and a perfect 30 for their freestyle.
Earle also racked up perfect 30s in all three rounds, while other finalists — including Dylan Efron, Jordan Chiles and Elaine Hendrix — earned a mix of near-perfect and perfect scores across the night.
Irwin’s supporters shot back just as fast as the criticism.
One fan joked, “Robbed this, robbed that... the only rob here is Robert with the mirrorball LET'S GOOO.” Another defended him more directly, writing: “Alix was amazing but guys c’mon, bullying THE Robert Irwin? touch grass.”
Irwin had reportedly been dealing with rib pain leading up to the finale, but still delivered clean, high-energy performances. He had been considered a top contender from early in the season, quickly becoming a fan favorite for what viewers called his “little brother energy.”
Irwin's big sister Bindi Irwin won "DWTS" Season 21, at 17 years old in 2015.
Billboard