‘Steve would be furious’: The Irwin family fires back at Bindi after she claimed her estranged grandfather Bob, 83, ‘ignored’ her since she was a child
Bindi Irwin is facing backlash from her own family for accusing her estranged grandfather Bob of ‘ignoring’ her since her childhood.
The 22-year-old made headlines on Sunday after she posted a scathing Facebook comment about her strained relationship with Bob, 83, claiming the ageing conservationist – who founded the family business Australia Zoo in 1970 – had ‘never said a single kind word’ to her and even ‘returned gifts’ she’d sent him.
While Bob has yet to publicly respond to the accusations, members of his inner circle have fired back at Bindi overnight.
‘Steve would be furious’: Bindi Irwin (pictured) is facing backlash from her own family for accusing her estranged grandfather Bob of ‘ignoring’ her since her childhood
Bethany Wheeler, another granddaughter of Bob’s by marriage, declared on Facebook: ‘The time has come to speak up.’
‘I read some absolutely appalling comments by Bindi today! Feel free to share this post (I will make it public) as we have all been silent… for too long,’ she wrote.
Ms Wheeler, whose stepmother Mandy is Bob’s daughter, defended her grandfather’s character, calling him ‘one of the most genuinely beautiful humans on this planet’ who has ‘never spoken out or put down anybody’.
Feud: The 22-year-old made headlines on Sunday after she posted a scathing Facebook comment about her strained relationship with Bob (pictured in October 2016), claiming the 83-year-old conservationist – who founded the family business Australia Zoo in 1970 – had ‘never said a single kind word’ to her and even ‘returned gifts’ she’d sent him
‘He is a man who sits silently and battles his demons alone, in what is great sadness. He doesn’t retaliate, only prays for his grandchildren’s safety and good lives,’ she continued.
Ms Wheeler went on to thank Bob for showing ‘absolute love, respect, support and encouragement’ throughout her life.
‘My sisters and brothers will happily back me up when I say that Bob Irwin is a passive and beautiful human,’ she added.
Breaking her silence: Bethany Wheeler (second from left), another granddaughter of Bob’s (left) by marriage, declared on Facebook: ‘The time has come to speak up… We have all felt sick reading [this] for too long.’ Pictured: Ms Wheeler at her wedding to husband Wayne
Amanda French, a family friend who co-wrote Bob’s 2016 autobiography, The Last Crocodile Hunter, also accused Bindi of assassinating her grandfather’s character.
‘To read the sad comments online today has sickened me, and people who are closest to him,’ Ms French wrote on Facebook.
She described Bob as ‘kind, gentle, generous and extremely f**king introverted’.
‘Sickened’: Amanda French (right), a family friend who co-wrote Bob’s 2016 autobiography, The Last Crocodile Hunter, accused Bindi of assassinating her grandfather’s character
‘It is disappointing [for Bindi] to have written what was written. To call a man [what Bindi called him] who has not once retaliated, simply buried his head in the sand and got on with his life in a meaningful way is [unfair],’ she wrote.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph on Monday, Ms French called Bindi’s attack ‘heartbreaking’, and insisted Bob still loves his family, including his granddaughter.
‘He hasn’t seen you since you were 10. He’s done all he knows how to do and that is bury his head in the sand because that’s how he copes,’ she said, referring to how Bob withdrew from life after his son Steve’s death almost 15 years ago.
Steve Irwin died in September 2006 aged 44, after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming a wildlife documentary in Batt Reef, Queensland.
Hitting back: Speaking to The Daily Telegraph on Monday, Ms French called Bindi’s attack ‘heartbreaking’, and insisted Bob still loves his family, including his granddaughter
‘This should be a private matter not written about on Facebook. I’m so disappointed to read this. It’s immature to write such words. We could turn this around and say he supported your family financially by handing you the keys to the very property he built with his bare hands,’ Ms French said, referring to how Bob handed ownership of Australia Zoo to his son and daughter-in-law Terri Irwin in 1992.
Meanwhile, Bob’s other granddaughter Toni Johnstone also claimed Steve would be ‘furious’ about his daughter’s accusations if he were alive today.
Commenting below Ms French’s Facebook post, Ms Johnstone wrote: ‘I honestly cannot believe how [Bindi] can [accuse Bob of these things] and then preach “let’s be kind to one another” in the same post.’
Lashing out: Bob’s other granddaughter Toni Johnstone also claimed Steve would be ‘furious’ about his daughter’s accusations if he were alive today
Ms Johnstone, whose mother Mandy is Steve’s sister, added: ‘Let’s hope [Bindi and Terri] remember who built the zoo that made them who they are today.’
‘Poppy [Bob] is the most caring, loving, beautiful soul and I am so incredibly lucky to have him as my grandfather,’ she continued.
Ms Johnstone went on to say she was ‘puzzled’ as to why Bindi would make such ‘horrible’ claims about Bob.
Confused: Ms Johnstone said she was ‘puzzled’ as to why Bindi would make such ‘horrible’ claims about Bob. Pictured from left: Robert, Terri and Bindi Irwin
The Irwin family feud was blasted wide open on Sunday when Bindi responded to a fan on Facebook who criticised her decision to exclude Bob from a post she’d written about ‘the fathers in [her] life’.
Bindi had uploaded sweet post celebrating Father’s Day in the USA, saying she was thankful for the ‘three most incredible fathers in her life’: her late father Steve Irwin, her husband Chandler Powell and her father-in-law Chris.
Fuming: Bindi (pictured with husband Chandler Powell) sensationally spoke out about her strained relationship with her estranged grandfather Bob in a scathing Facebook comment
When one fan asked why she hadn’t included her grandfather – Steve’s father, Bob – Bindi gave an uncharacteristically raw account of their relationship, claiming he’s ignored her since she was a ‘little girl’.
The mother-of-one wrote: ‘I really wish that my entire family could spend time with Grace. Unfortunately, my grandfather Bob has shown no interest in spending time with me or my family.’
She went on to claim that Bob had ‘returned gifts I’ve sent after he opened them’, and ignored any letters sent from her.
Claims: When one fan asked why she hadn’t included her grandfather – Steve’s father, Bob (far right) – Bindi (far left) gave an uncharacteristically raw account of their relationship. Pictured with mother Terri (second right) and brother Robert (second left) in 2007, one year after Steve’s death
Speaking out: The mother of one wrote, ‘I really wish that my entire family could spend time with Grace. Unfortunately, my grandfather Bob has shown no interest in spending time with me or my family’
Thankful: Bindi had commented on a sweet Father’s Day post celebrating the ‘three most incredible fathers in her life’ ; her late father Steve Irwin, her husband Chandler Powell and her father-in-law Chris
‘From the time I was a little girl he has ignored me, preferring to spend time doing anything else rather than being with me,’ she continued.
‘He has never said a single kind word to me personally. It breaks my heart.’
She went on to say that her mother Terri still writes to him and sends birthday cards and Christmas gifts, but claims they have received no reply.
Strained: ‘He has never said a single kind word to me personally. It breaks my heart.’ Bindi claims. Pictured: Bob holding a photograph of Bindi in 2008
‘We have also been his financial support since 1992 when he returned from Australia Zoo, sending him funds every week,’ she added.
‘We built him a house on a beautiful property and will always do our best to ensure his wellbeing.
‘I hope everyone remembers to be kind to one another but most of all care for your own mental health.
‘I have struggled with this relationship my entire life and it brings me enormous pain.’
Bindi, who welcomed her first daughter Grace in March, concluded by saying she has to ‘choose to care for her own mental health now’.
Bob previously spoke to the media about the alleged family feud that left him estranged from his granddaughter.
‘We have also been his financial support since 1992 when he returned from Australia Zoo, sending him funds every week,’ she added. Pictured, Bob Irwin and wife Judy at the RSPCA in Brisbane in 2008
In September 2019, he told the Courier Mail that he had not received a response since writing a letter to Bindi in which he wished her well after she announced her engagement to her now-husband Chandler in July.
He claimed their latest dispute stemmed from a misunderstanding after a reporter walked onto his property hoping to get a comment on what he thought about the engagement.
When Mr Irwin refused to answer, it was mistakenly taken as a begrudged silence. Photos of him at his home were also splashed across the tabloids, only fuelling the false impression that he was unhappy with the upcoming marriage.
Helping hand: ‘We built him a house on a beautiful property and will always do our best to ensure his wellbeing,’ said Bindi. Pictured, Bob Irwin’s farm outside Kingaroy, 2008
He said he wasn’t invited to the wedding, and didn’t expect to be.
‘If they wanted to, of course I would,’ he had said.
‘I get messages (from friends) constantly about how Bob and Bindi are doing, what achievements they’ve made, what interests they have, and I also watch television like everyone else.
‘They keep me up-to-date. Both Bindi and Bob have achieved a lot in a short space of time; mind you, they’re both only young yet. But they’ve done well and I would say Steve would be pretty happy with the way they’re doing.’
Family: Bob is the father of legendary Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, who passed away in 2006. Pictured: The family in 2004
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