NEED TO KNOW
As he heads into the Dancing with the Stars finale, Robert Irwin is not exactly at 100% physically, according to his partner.
In a TikTok shared Monday, Nov. 24, pro Witney Carson opened up about how the dance partners are doing, physically and emotionally, just one day out from the highly anticipated season 34 finale. Specifically, Carson, 32, said that the 21-year-old wildlife conservationist has been having pain in his ribs, and said “more will be revealed” about the duo’s situation during Tuesday’s episode.
After “11 weeks of crazy, vigorous, hard dancing,” Carson said, “My body is feeling it. Robert’s body is feeling it. We’re, like, kind of falling apart right now. Just trying to keep it together for, like, two more days. Literally today and tomorrow, and then it’s over.”
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Specifically, she said, “Robert’s ribs have been killing him, and more will be revealed on Tuesday.”
The DWTS pro did not clarify what caused the apparent injury, but said that viewers will “get a better idea of what we’ve been dealing with all week” during the Nov. 25 episode.
Carson filmed the video while getting ready for the final “camera blocking” of season 34 — and before running through routines with Robert, who is the son of late conservationist Steve Irwin.
“So I’m headed to rehearsal first, just to clean up Robert and what we need to do for blocking, and then we go to Television City to lock the freestyle,” Carson told fans. “And then we’re gonna go back to the studio to rehearse even more, ‘cause this is the last chance, and knowing Robert, he’s going to want to rehearse till the very last second.”
“Last night we stayed at the studio till it closed down,” she added. “Like, they had to kick us out at 9 p.m. We’re gonna have absolutely no regrets by the end of this.”
The fan-favorite duo are one of several pairs competing for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy in the three-hour final episode on Tuesday, Nov. 25. Remaining contestants include influencer Alix Earle with Valentin Chmerkovskiy, Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles with Ezra Sosa, television personality Dylan Efron with Daniella Karagach, and actress Elaine Hendrix with Alan Bersten.
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Season 34 has been an “emotional” ride, Carson said in her Nov. 24 TikTok, and the conclusion feels “bittersweet.”
“I was so emotional yesterday, I literally couldn’t stop crying,” said the DWTS pro. “I think for a bunch of different reasons. I think I’m emotionally and physically exhausted, but also that this whole experience is coming to an end. It just feels very bittersweet.”
She added that she is “very ready” to return to Florida (DWTS films in Los Angeles) and spend time with her family, “But it’s also just been such a beautiful, special experience this season that it just feels very bittersweet.”
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“I really do feel like I’ve already won in this experience with Robert as my partner and experiences and the memories that we’ve shared have been so special, and just this entire season just feels like the biggest gift,” she said. “And I’m just so thankful and thankful for everyone that has voted, that got us here and won’t start crying.”
If Robert does take home the iconic DWTS trophy, he will be the second in his family to do so.
His older sister Bindi Irwin competed in the series and won in 2015. As her younger brother headed into this season, Bindi, 27, shared a piece of advice with the newcomer, he previously told PEOPLE.
“There is no sibling rivalry,” he explained at the PEOPLE at the annual Steve Irwin Gala back in May. “It’s actually really nice. She has just said, ‘Go into this and make it your own.’ She said it’s going to be a completely different experience.”
The DWTS finale airs Tuesday, Nov. 25, at 8 p.m. EST/PST on ABC.
