Fans Sad After Robert Irwin Appears to ‘Soft Launch’ Girlfriend
Fans are in mourning after concluding that Robert Irwin's newest series of Instagram photos included a "soft launch" of his suspected relationship with Rorie Buckley.
In a roundup of "recent moments" shared earlier today, some fans thought that the 19-year-old son of the late Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, was performing "the softest launch that was ever launched." In the Instagram carousel, he dropped a subtle snapshot of a "sneaky little ice cream date" in the middle of a slew of scenic shots and video clips of him with a variety of animals, a sandy beach lining blue water, and the sun setting out of an airplane window.
"Oh no hes soft launching her," another commenter despaired.
"The girlfriend 'soft-launch': a classy way to let the rest of us down gently," wrote another, while someone else requested an "ice cream buddy reveal????."
"SOBBING," another admitted.
Fans of the conservationist shouldn't be so stunned, though. While the two have yet to formally confirm their relationship, the young couple was spotted canoodling on the beach last November, and Buckley was also seen in attendance at the Australia Zoo's crocodile show for Irwin's birthday.
Irwin also appeared to hard-launch his relationship with the 18-year-old niece of Heath Ledger in early July, as the pair looked awfully cozy together on the red carpet at the Sydney premiere of Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One.
Parade could not independently verify the initial report, but rumors started swirling this week that Irwin was preparing to vacate his role at the Australia Zoo to move to Western Australia to be closer to Buckley as she finishes her studies.
"Pleaseee tell me you're not leaving Aussie zoo," one commenter addressed the rumors. "I can deal with u having a girlfriend but not this."
"Think the animals are trying to send you a sign to stay," another wrote, adding, "Please stay."
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