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Robert Irwin struggling to find someone to tango with in the spotlight.
The Dancing With the Stars contestant admitted that being in the public eye has made his dating life difficult at times.
“Holy moly, that’s so challenging to navigate,” Robert told The New York Times in an interview published Nov. 23, adding that, when it comes to romance, “anything you do will be on TikTok the next day.”
Still, the 21-year-old insisted that the pressure hasn’t changed who he is at his core.
“I never change what I say, what I do, who I am one bit, wherever I am,” Robert explained, noting he has “no persona to hide behind.”
He added, “It’s just me, and I stand by who I am.”
And when he needs a break, Robert knows he can always head back to Australia, where he says he surfs most mornings.
“That is my meditation,” he shared. “It’s my church. It’s my everything.”
Indeed, Robert—who will compete on the Dancing With the Stars season 34 finale episode with pro partner Witney Carson on Nov. 25—has been the subject of intense dating speculation as of late.
Earlier this month, the reality TV personality sparked romance rumors when he performed an intimate dance with Xochitl Gomez—who won season 32 of the ABC competition series—for the show’s 20th anniversary celebration episode.
As for how he chose to navigate the situation? Robert avoided confirming or denying the rumor when asked outright, instead choosing to focus on how it felt to dance the jive alongside the Marvel actress for the Nov. 11 episode.
“We had the best time,” he told TMZ at the time. “That dance was so much fun.”
However, that doesn’t mean Robert’s afraid to sing Xochitl’s praises, as he also described the 19-year-old as someone who brings “so much energy and fun and passion” to the ballroom.
“It feels like we’re so on the same wavelength when it comes to approaching the jive,” Robert told Deadline in an interview published Nov. 12. “We’re like, ‘Make sure it’s really fun and then Witney can come in and make sure your toes are pointed.’”