Robert Irwin Shocks Fans by Posing Shirtless for Underwear Ads
Queensland, Australia, April 4, 2025 – Robert Irwin, the 21-year-old son of the late “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin, has stunned fans by stripping down to his skivvies for a bold new underwear campaign with Australian brand Bonds. The conservationist and TV personality, known for his khaki-clad adventures at Australia Zoo, traded his usual attire for a series of steamy shirtless shots, leaving little to the imagination and sparking a frenzy online. Launched on April 3, the “Made for Down Under” campaign marks Bonds’ push into the U.S. market, with Irwin as its unexpected star.
A Wild Transformation
The campaign, shot entirely in-camera with no CGI, features Irwin posing in Bonds boxer briefs alongside venomous snakes, spiders, and even a crocodile named Elvis. In one striking image, he lounges on a lawn chair with a python draped over his shoulders and a tarantula crawling up his thigh, exuding a laid-back confidence that’s a far cry from his zookeeper persona. “I’ve spent my life wrangling crocs and snakes,” Irwin told PEOPLE in an exclusive interview. “This time, I’m surrounded by spiders and snakes—except I’m in my undies. That’s the only difference.”
Fans who grew up watching Irwin as a toddler on his father’s wildlife shows were floored by the transformation. “Wait what… when did he… how did he… huh,” one Instagram user commented under Bonds’ post, while another quipped, “What in the Irwin is going on here?” A third admitted, “Not the collab I was expecting—he looks SO good.” The shock factor wasn’t lost on Irwin, who laughed to Fox News, “Getting your gear off is way scarier than wrangling a croc!”
From Khakis to Briefs
Irwin, who turned 21 in November 2024, said yes to the gig without hesitation. “It was a pretty immediate yes,” he told PEOPLE. “Bonds in Australia is an absolute icon, and I’m at this point in my life where I’m trying to do random, exciting things that make me a bit nervous.” To prep, he ramped up his fitness routine, cutting carbs and logging “more sit-ups than ever” while leveraging his 700-acre Australia Zoo playground for sprints. “I’m representing Australia,” he added, “so I wanted to look my best.”
The campaign blends his conservation roots with Bonds’ cheeky Aussie spirit. “It seems out of the ordinary for what I’d do,” Irwin explained, “but I get to be with Aussie wildlife and get my conservation message out to a new audience.” It’s a nod to his father’s legacy—Steve Irwin died in 2006 from a stingray barb while filming—though Robert joked to The Daily Beast that Steve might’ve tossed out a few “Crikeys!” at the sight of his son’s scantily clad debut.
Mixed Reactions and Viral Buzz
The internet erupted. Posts on X ranged from “Robert Irwin’s abs are a national treasure” to “Calvin Klein gave us Jeremy Allen White, and Bonds gives us this?!” BuzzFeed dubbed it a “down under” redefinition, while The Independent reported fans “losing it” over the photoshoot. Some, like a commenter on Today, felt “dirty” ogling the once-baby-faced Irwin, now a chiseled zookeeper with a global platform.
Not everyone’s sold. “It doesn’t feel like the Robert we knew,” one X user mused, reflecting a divide between those embracing his glow-up and purists missing his khaki-clad innocence. Still, the campaign’s rollout—spanning digital, social, and Amazon as Bonds hits U.S. shelves—ensures Irwin’s abs (and snakes) are inescapable.
A New Chapter
Directed by Stefan Hunt with stills by Lula Cucchiara, the ads juxtapose suburban Aussie life—lawnmowers, clotheslines—with Irwin’s wildlife flair, a fitting launch for a brand touting “comfort amid chaos.” For Irwin, who co-hosts I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! Australia and walked Melbourne Fashion Festival in 2024, it’s another leap beyond his dad’s shadow. “We’re continuing his legacy in my own way,” he said, proving that even in briefs, he’s still a wildlife warrior at heart—just with a lot less fabric.
