NEED TO KNOW
- Robert Irwin joked that his “DMs are a dangerous place” after his sexy underwear ads in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE at the Steve Irwin Gala
- PEOPLE exclusively revealed Robert and Bond’s “Made for Down Under” campaign last month
- “I very much appreciate everyone listening to my message,” Robert said, referencing how he did the ads to bring awareness to animal conservation
Ever since Robert Irwin stripped down to his underwear and showed off his chiseled physique, his Instagram has been filled with many admirers.
“Oh my gosh. The DMs are a dangerous place right now,” the 21-year-old conservationist and TV personality told PEOPLE exclusively at the annual Steve Irwin Gala in Las Vegas on May 10. “I have been giving the DMs a wide berth.”
PEOPLE exclusively revealed Robert and Bond’s “Made for Down Under” campaign last month, as the Australian underwear brand launches in the United States. In the images, he appears nearly nude, modeling with venomous snakes and spiders.
“I very much appreciate everyone listening to my message,” Robert said, referencing how he did the campaign to bring awareness to animal conservation.
“I just try and put out a bit of positivity into the world, and I do want to reach as many people as I can,” he added. “And interestingly enough, my whole life, I’ve reached people in my khakis, and I never would’ve thought that I would reach even more people out of my khakis, out of the uniform.”
Robert also told PEOPLE of life after his sexy snapshots, “It’s been a fun experience, and I’m very flattered, and everyone has been really kind. They really have.”
“This has added this new element to my message. It’s always been about animal conservation, positivity, all of that, but now health and fitness,” he continued. “And I really want to be someone to go out there and say, ‘Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Be the best version of yourself.’ ”
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Robert was fully clothed while attending the Steve Irwin Gala, which honors the life of his late father and pushes for wildlife conservation. (Steve died following an unprovoked attack by a stingray in 2006.)
Shorly before the event, Robert revealed to PEOPLE that sister Bindi Irwin was forced to miss the event last-minute, as she was undergoing surgery after her appendix ruptured.
Speaking about his philanthropy, Robert told the gala crowd from the stage at the Bellagio, “Conservation can come in the form of so many different industries, so many different walks of life. I’ve started to realize I can push this message in so many different ways, and I’m so grateful to have my family support in doing that.”
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“I always thought wildlife documentaries would be how I do it, how I reach an audience to get the message out, [but] never, ever in my wildest dreams did I think being in my undies would do it, as well,” he continued playfully. “Every time I walk in a room, they say, ‘Oh, it’s nice to see you with clothes on this time.’ ”
“This has been an eye-opening experience. It has been very interesting, but at the end of the day, everything I do is to reach a new audience, is to get that message out there, and hopefully to create my own legacy while carrying on a legacy that is so incredibly important to me,” added Robert.
The fundraiser raised money for Wildlife Warriors, the global conservation charity founded by Terri Irwin and the Crocodile Hunter.
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