Robert Irwin shared a special moment with a contestant during the latest episode of โDancing With the Stars: The Next Proโ when the two bonded over losing one of their parents at a young age.
In the second episode of the โDancing With the Starsโ spinoff, which aired July 20, the 14 remaining contestants were paired up and tasked with choreographing a dance that told the story of a significant moment in their lives. Dancer Allen Genkin, 36, decided to portray the absence he has felt since his mother died.
Genkin practiced the choreography with partner Adele Zaikman, explaining to her that for one particular move he wanted her to represent his mother being an angel looking over him. After rehearsals, Genkin became emotional and confided in Irwin, whose father Steve Irwin died when he was just 2 years old, and the two had a poignant conversation about grief.
โI wanted to visit Allen today because I know heโs telling a very important story, and a story thatโs hard to tell. I want to see if I can help him through,โ Robert Irwin, who hosts the competition series, explained in a voiceover.
While speaking with Genkin about the challenge, Robert Irwin said, โThis week is heavy. But I feel like, particularly for you, itโs an important story.โ
Genkin then shared that his mother, whom he described as his โbest friend,โ died when he was 15.
โYou know, 20 years have gone by. They say time heals all wounds, but it really doesnโt,โ he told Robert Irwin, who shook his head and agreed with Genkin. โAnd the only way I could really do it justice is to really showcase it through art, and thatโs what I want to do.โ
Robert Irwin said he could relate to Genkin because he also confronted the pain of losing a parent through dance.
โI understand what itโs like to lose someone. When I did โDancing With the Stars,โ I was given this opportunity to do a dedication dance to my mom. As soon as that music stopped, my mom joined me on stage, and I completely broke down,โ he recalled, referring to the Season 34 โDedication Nightโ episode and the emotional embrace he shared with mom Terri Irwin.
Robert Irwin, who also performed a tribute to older sister Bindi Irwin in another episode and went on to win the season, continued, โItโs like youโre facing something for the first time in your life that youโve never had the strength to face. But movement and dance, that is the thing that gives you the ability to face that.โ
Genkin took the advice to heart and said he would use the dance as a chance to reconnect with his late mother.
โI think this is going to be the closest Iโve been to her since,โ he said.
Tears filled Genkin and Robert Irwinโs eyes before the two hugged. โIโll be right there with you, man,โ Robert Irwin sweetly told him.
The 22-year-old zookeeper and conservationist has opened up before about grieving his dad, who died in September 2006 after a stingray attack.
During an interview on CNNโs โAll There Is with Anderson Cooperโ podcast in March, Robert Irwin revealed he still talks to his dad and feels his presence.
โIโm always closest to dad when Iโm in the middle of nowhere, you know, when Iโm out in the bush,โ he shared. โThere are absolutely moments where Iโll be hit with this sense of โ itโs warmth, itโs like something kind of wraps around me.โ
In those moments, he often asks his dad, โHow do I go forward?โ
Although he doesnโt hear an answer, he said he feels a โresolution.โ
โThere are these checkpoints that I find throughout life where youโre kind of going through the motions and then sometimes something will just hit you, and you need to just step away,โ he said. โYou need to download and you need to let loose. You need to go, โOK, I need to refocus on what is my grief journey.โ