Robert Irwin shed more light on his Dancing With the Stars injury during the season 34 finale on Tuesday, November 25.
Following a visit from Derek Hough for the judges’ choice round, Irwin, 21, grimaced in footage from his rehearsal with pro Witney Carson taken Saturday, November 22.
“I’ve been dealing with rib pain because the intercostal muscles of the ribs are under a lot of tension. It’s been getting worse progressively,” he explained to the camera.
Carson, 32, admitted she was “extremely worried” about Irwin’s safety in their dances. “At the end of the day, his health is my priority,” she said before telling her partner that she’d have a “plan B” for their finale week.
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Despite being warned to take it easy, Irwin and Carson left it all on the floor for their quickstep to “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet. At the end of the dance — which earned a nearly perfect score with 29 out of 30 points — Irwin assured viewers he was “excited” and ready to push himself on finale night.
Carson previously revealed in a TikTok video on Monday, November 24, that Irwin’s ribs were “killing him” as they prepared for their final DWTS performances. She noted that changes needed to be made to their freestyle choreography due to the injury.
“It’s just honestly the most stressful part because this is just getting it all together and it’s gonna take some time,” Carson continued. “We’re gonna have to run it a lot and just make sure everything is coming together for Tuesday. … It’s literally tomorrow, what the heck.”
Ahead of the season finale, Carson said she felt “emotionally and physically exhausted,” adding that both she and Irwin were “feeling it” in their bodies.
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The wildlife conservationist, however, was likely to push through the pain. “Knowing Robert, he’s going to want to rehearse until the very last second,” Carson continued. “Last night, we stayed at the studio until it closed down, like, they had to kick us out at 9 p.m.”
Carson gushed that she felt “thankful” to share her DWTS experience with Irwin this season, also taking her gratitude to Instagram with an emotional tribute.
“I’ve been searching for the right words to describe this season, and every time I try, nothing feels big enough. This journey has transformed me in ways I didn’t even expect. Robert, you’ve pushed me to be a better teacher, a better choreographer, and honestly, a better human,” she wrote on Monday. “You brought back a spark in me that had dimmed in the ballroom for a while, and for that I am forever grateful. You are joy, light, and everything good in this world. I truly believe you’ve healed a part of America just by showing up as YOU. … Let’s do this, buddy. 🤍.”
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Hours before they hit the ballroom floor for the last time together, Irwin gave Carson a heartfelt message of his own. Carson shared a glimpse of a handwritten note from her partner via her Instagram Story on Tuesday.
“I admire your courage as you balance a truly impressive work-load while being a fantastic mum, and your determination and kindness even under huge pressure is inspiring,” Irwin wrote to Carson. “You have taught me lessons that I’ll take with me for the rest of my life.”
His note continued, “I feel blessed to know the Carson/McAllisters and while it is coming to an end, you’ve got me in your corner forever. We Irwins tend to stick around! Sorry bud, I’m hard to get rid of … Always remember, when in doubt, send it.”
Carson showed her appreciation for the thoughtful gesture, writing in her caption, “In case you needed another reason to love Robert Irwin.”
