NEED TO KNOW
Robert Irwin had a sweet embrace right after his Dancing with the Stars win.
The 21-year-old wildlife conservationist shared a hug with Xochitl Gomez, 19, after his Mirrorball win on Nov. 25, which comes as dating rumors swirl around the pair.
Backstage, moments after Irwin and his partner, Witney Carson, took the title of Dancing with the Stars season 34 champs, the Avengers actress was there to congratulate him. Gomez knows what he was feeling — she won season 32 of DWTS with her partner Val Chmerkovskiy in 2023.
ABC
In a video taken by PEOPLE in the ballroom, Irwin is seen hugging Gomez. He mumbles a greeting, while Gomez speaks into his ear. Eagle-eyed fans in the comments of the post suggest that as they pulled away, Irwin was seen saying, “See you soon.”
Although their interaction was brief, Gomez congratulated the Australian conservationist on Instagram.
“I am so incredibly proud of you two,” Gomez wrote alongside a video of Irwin and Carson receiving the coveted trophy. “What a season!❤️”
Jesse Grant/Getty; Maya Dehlin Spach/WireImage
Irwin competed against fellow celebrity contestants Alix Earle, Jordan Chiles, Dylan Efron and Elaine Hendrix in the three-hour finale. He and Carson scored an 89 out of 90 total possible points over three dances.
Irwin and Gomez were paired together as she rejoined the ballroom for the series’ 20th birthday celebration episode, which was broadcast on Nov. 11. The pair performed a jive to “Dance with Me Tonight” by Olly Murswere for the Relay Dance round.
After their dance, judge Derek Hough remarked on the pair’s chemistry, and Carson gave a knowing look, prompting fans to speculate about a budding romance.
Since the dating rumors began, fans have kept a close eye on their interactions.
Eric McCandless/Disney via Getty
Ahead of the finale, Gomez was seen giving Irwin a large bouquet of flowers outside of his trailer in photos shared by TMZ.
The status of their connection is unconfirmed.
