Robert Irwin may have impressed the judges on Dancing With the Stars, but it’s his off-the-dance-floor chemistry with Marvel actress and former Mirrorball champion Xochitl Gomez that has the internet buzzing.
After the pair performed a high-energy routine during the show’s 20th anniversary celebration, romance rumours immediately ignited, and they’ve only grown stronger after following Robert’s win.
Here’s everything we know so far about the fan-favourite duo.
Who is Xochitl Gomez?
Xochitl Gomez is a 19-year-old actress best known for playing America Chavez in Marvel’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Before her breakout in the MCU, she was already gaining attention for her roles in The Baby-Sitters Club and various Disney projects.
But for DWTS fans, Xochitl is also a familiar face: she won Season 32 of the series, becoming one of the youngest Mirrorball Trophy winners in the show’s history. Her return for the 20th anniversary special brought her back into the ballroom—this time, to dance alongside contestant Robert Irwin.
Her youthful energy, standout technique, and big personality have made her a fan favourite of the franchise. And as viewers saw this season, she also seems to share undeniable on-screen chemistry with Robert.
Why do fans think Robert Irwin and Xochitl Gomez are dating?
It all started with that jive relay dance.
During the anniversary episode, Robert and Xochitl performed a fast, high-energy jive that fans immediately described as “electric.” Their playful chemistry, paired with their matching enthusiasm, had social media convinced that something more than dance was going on.
Then TMZ caught up with Robert.
When asked directly if he and Xochitl were an item, Robert noticeably didn’t shut down the speculation. Instead, he gushed about their time together.
“Oh my gosh, we had the best time. That dance was so much fun,” he told TMZ.
He went on to explain how refreshing it was to do a lively routine with Xochitl after performing a slower, emotional foxtrot earlier in the night with partner Witney Carson and his sister Bindi.
“It was so cool to do two, such distinct dances… And then the dance with Xochitl which was just like energy and fun. She’s the best, it’s been really, really great.”
His refusal to confirm or deny the rumours has only fanned the flames.
What have they said about working together?
The pair trained together in the days leading up to the performance, and according to Robert, rehearsals were just as energetic as the routine itself.
In a post-show interview, he shared that Xochitl brought “so much energy and fun and passion” into the process. He added that they seemed to be “on the same wavelength” when approaching the choreography.
Witney Carson, Robert’s pro partner, chimed in too, joking that she’d “never felt more old” than when watching Robert and Xochitl giggle their way through rehearsals. Still, she praised them for being “extremely hard workers” who delivered when it mattered.
Their easy rapport is exactly why fans keep speculating.
Were Robert and Xochitl spotted on a date?
Here’s where things get interesting…though still unverified.
Celebrity gossip account Deuxmoi posted an anonymous email that claimed Robert was spotted on a date at Erewhon with his “guest celebrity partner from last week’s episode.” While the sender didn’t name names, fans instantly assumed it meant Xochitl.
Of course, Deuxmoi submissions are anonymous and unverified, so the rumour remains nothing more than a crumb. Still, for fans shipping the pair, it was more than enough fuel.
Hours before Robert won season 34 of the Dance show, fans spotted Xochitl dropping by his trailer with a bouquet of flowers – further fueling speculation.
“I am so incredibly proud of you two,” she later wrote on Instagram after he and Witney won. “What a season.”
What about the Hailey Bills rumours?
Before the Xochitl buzz, fans were already linking Robert to DWTS troupe dancer Hailey Bills. That rumour stemmed from a previous Deuxmoi submission and the fact that Hailey is the only troupe member Robert follows on Instagram.
However, neither has commented on the speculation, and Robert’s newest rumoured connection with Xochitl has quickly eclipsed the Hailey chatter.
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