Robert Irwin hits back after fans call out his ‘creepy’ relationship with mum Terri: ‘People forget that loss brings a family together’

Robert Irwin has defended his close ties with his family.

The 20-year-old zookeeper and TV presenter responded to claims that his mother Terri was a “helicopter parent” and that he found it “scary” that they spent so much time together.

Robert said he had a very close bond with his clan after the loss of his famous father Steve Irwin.

Steve died on September 4, 2006 at the age of 44, after being stung in the chest by a stingray while filming a documentary about the Great Barrier Reef.

Robert was only two years and nine months old at the time, while his sister Bindi was eight.

‘I think loss brings a family back together in a unique way… people forget [that]’, Robert said during an interview on The Kyle and Jackie O show on Monday.

“I think when we lost Dad, our little close-knit family unit became incredibly close. And we usually travel everywhere as a whole family. That’s nice.”

Roberts’ close relationship with his mother Terri, 60, has been met with backlash from fans who believe that the two are ‘inextricably linked’.

Terri is often spotted with Robert at red carpet events and her public appearances with the popular celebrity conservationist have increased since Robert’s shocking split from girlfriend Rorie Buckey in February.

Later, reports emerged that Terri’s opinion on the relationship may have contributed to the split.

She also accompanied Robert to South Africa and was on set when he filmed I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! this year. Robert also invited Bindi and his two-year-old niece Grace Warier to film with him.

The 20-year-old zookeeper and TV presenter responds to claims his mother Terri was a ‘helicopter parent’ and that it was ‘creepy’ that they spent so much time together

In April, a producer from I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! expressed his concerns about Robert and his ever-present mother.

The anonymous producer admitted at the time in an exclusive interview with Ny Breaking Australia that Terri’s daily presence on set was “a bit creepy.” He said: “It’s a bit of a ‘take-your-mum-to-school-camp’ kind of vibe.”

Terri, who has been responsible for Robert and his older sister Bindi’s showbiz careers since Steve’s death, apparently kept a close eye on everything Robert did while working on the program.

Robert said he had an extremely close bond with his family after losing his famous father Steve Irwin. Pictured: Robert on the red carpet with sister Bindi, 25, and his mother, Terri, 60, in May

“The two have a great relationship and Terri couldn’t be nicer, but there aren’t many situations where employees bring their mothers to work just to make sure everything is fair,” the insider said.

“There have been rumors on set that Robert is withholding information about his love life from his mother, which is pretty normal for most 20-year-old guys,” the source said, adding that “fissures will continue to form” if Terri continues to interfere in his love life.

Terri’s parenting strategy continued to raise questions among Roberts’ fans when the couple posed together in several photos shared to Instagram during their travels in May.

In two of the photos, Terri and her son are seen beaming for the camera, prompting some critics to complain that the two are often seen together.

“Robert and his mom are inseparable. She’s in every picture you see of him,” one person wrote in the comments, while another said, “He’s 20 now!”

Last month, a TV insider revealed to the Ny Breaking Australia that Robert was planning to take Terri to the 64th annual TV Week Logie Awards on August 18 as his ‘special guest’.

Robert split from his girlfriend of two years, Rorie Buckey, in February. Since then, his mother’s public appearances with the I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! host have increased

Producers of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, which Robert co-hosts with Julia Morris, are said to be concerned that the presence of his 59-year-old mother on his arm could be “a huge blow to his loyal fans”.

“The son of the late Steve Irwin is perhaps Australia’s most talked about ‘bachelor’ in the TV industry and everyone knows he wouldn’t have a hard time landing a date, so his decision seems a little odd,” the insider said.

Ny Breaking Australia has reached out to Robert Irwin and Terri Irwin for comment.