Here’s what we know about the Wildlife Warrior’s relationship with Witney Carson.

Fans have speculated that Robert Irwin and his Dancing With The Stars partner Witney Carson are dating. Photos: Instagram/robertirwinphotography / witneycarson

Robert Irwin has set the internet alight with his appearance on this year’s season of Dancing With The Stars, and not just because of his performance abilities. Fans have speculated whether he and his professional dance partner, Witney Carson, are dating after noticing chemistry between them during their last two performances.

The duo, who have a 10-year age gap, have shared plenty of sweet photos and videos on social media from rehearsals. Robert has also repeatedly praised Whitney for being “the most incredible teacher” and described their pairing as “perfect”.

“I am so lucky to have the best dance partner for this amazing Dancing With The Stars adventure,” he wrote alongside the announcement of their partnership earlier this month.

Are Robert Irwin and Witney Carson dating?

While fans have described Robert and Witney as a “beautiful couple”, there’s little chance of a showmance. Robert might be single, but Witney is married.

The professional dancer tied the knot with her high school sweetheart, Carson McAllister, in 2016, and the pair have two sons: Kevin Leo and Jet Carson.

Witney rose to fame as a contestant on So You Think You Can Dance in 2012 and has since appeared on 15 seasons of Dancing With The Stars, winning the mirrorball trophy in 2014 with Alfonso Ribeiro.

Witney married her high school sweetheart in 2016. Photo: Instagram/witneycarson

Robert’s connection with another co-star

Robert and Witney might not be dating, but he would be getting some backstage time with a dancer he expressed interest in connecting with before he joined the show.

The Wildlife Warrior told Yahoo Lifestyle in June 2024 that if he ever competed on Dancing With The Stars, he’d hope to be paired with professional dancer Rylee Arnold.

She had competed with fellow Aussie Harry Jowsey the previous year and is currently paired with Pentatonix singer Scott Hoying.

“I’d want to do Dancing With The Stars with Rylee because she’s awesome. That’s been the big discussion,” he remarked. “Let’s manifest doing Dancing With The Stars!”

Meanwhile, Rylee had previously admitted in an interview with Entertainment Tonight that Robert would be her dream celebrity partner on Dancing With The Stars.

“Robert Irwin, imagine,” she gushed. “‘Cos his sister Bindi was on the show and I remember watching his sister on the show when I was eight years old, and I was like ‘Robert’s like my age.’ I was like, ‘Please, he has to be on the show at least one day for me’.”

Robert previously said he wanted to compete on the US version of Dancing With The Stars with professional dancer Rylee Arnold. Photos: Instagram/robertirwinphotography / ryleearnold1

Have any couples found love on Dancing With The Stars?

Since Dancing With The Stars launched in the US 20 years ago, there have been plenty of romances formed between celebrity contestants and their professional partners.

Shark Tank star Robert Herjavec famously started dating Australian ballroom dancer Kym Johnson while filming season 20 in 2015, with the pair getting married in 2016 and welcoming twins two years later.

Brian Austin Green and Sharna Burgess have also welcomed a son together and gotten engaged since filming the show in 2021, although they technically began dating before being paired.

Other DWTS couples who started dating but have since broken up include Mario Lopez and Karina Smirnoff, Sabrina Bryan and Mark Ballas, James Maslow and Peta Murgatroyd, and Chrishell Stause and Keo Motsepe.