Steve Irwin may be at rest now after being put to death by the pussycat of the sea, but the Irwin legacy continues thanks to Steve's alarmingly confident eight-year-old daughter Bindi Irwin, who is doing her best to conquer the entire world.
Just because her Dad recently died in a freak accident, it doesn't mean that Bindi Irwin can rest for a minute. As well as her new 26-part nature documentary show Bindi, The Jungle Girl, Bindi Irwin is now in America on a punishing junket that involves appearances on all kinds of talkshows, an address to the National Press Club and all sorts of other Australia-promoting shenanigans. If all of this sounds like too much work for a recently-bereaved eight-year-old girl, relax – Bindi Irwin's manager has said she's under no pressure to perform at all, and that Bindi would hate to let down her audience of people who basically like to pay money to see an eight-year-old girl running around near an angry crocodile's open mouth.
After Steve Irwin was killed by a stingray barb last year, the different stages of grief were there for all to see. There was incredible disbelief, then a gradual acceptance of his passing. That was followed by the traditional grieving process of idiots going on a stingray-murdering spree, Steve Irwin-based episodes of South Park and having to listen to Russell Crowe claim he didn't want to star as Steve Irwin in a film. So far so normal.
What we weren't expecting, however, was to see Steve Irwin's eight-year-old daughter Bindi Irwin marching on as if nothing had happened. Bindi's Teflon-plated confidence during a speech about her father at the Steve Irwin memorial service looked like an act of unusual courage, but then it was quickly followed by the news that Bindi Irwin was going to star in a 26-part series co-starring her dead father entitled Bindi, The Jungle Girl, and people started fearing for her well-being.
And now, as well as having to deal with the broadcast of Bindi, The Jungle Girl as well as Steve Irwin's final documentary, Bindi Irwin is also hitting the interview circuit, as Reuters reports:
Bindi Irwin, who will star in the 26-part "Bindi, the Jungle Girl" series on Discovery Kids network, will address the National Press Club in Washington this week, and appear on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and David Letterman's "The Late Show".
And that's not all; the Australian government has also roped Bindi Irwin into helping to promote Australia around America too – performing shows with whoever's left in the Wiggles and her own troupe of back-up dancers as well as a gala dinner for prominent Australians in LA, which we're guessing is just a lager-drenched punch-up kickstarted by Russell Crowe throwing a telephone at a gong. Even an adult would have trouble keeping up with the arduous pace of promotion that Bindi Irwin is being put through, leading to fears that the eight-year-old will be unable to cope with all what some are perceiving as exploitation, but that isn't the case according to Bindi Irwin's manager John Stainton:
"My criteria is if Bindi doesn't want to do it that day, if she wants to go to the zoo or the beach, then that's what we're doing. That is the priority, it's what she wants to do… There's no pressure on her to do anything at all."
However, the chances of Bindi Irwin pulling out of her appearances is highly unlikely, partly thanks to Bindi's unbelievable professionalism and partly thanks to the video that Stainton made her watch on the plane trip over; a rudimentary documentary shot by Stainton himself on a 15-year-old VHS camcorder entitled Stingrays Live In The Zoo And The Beach But Not TV Studios.
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Honey says
It is a bit weird… everyone has their own way to deal with the loss of a family member, but I’m worried about Bindi. I hope the people around her realise that she’s a child first and a commodity second
m meyers says
I was under the impression Steve Irwin was filming spots for this show of Bindi’s when his accident occured.
Perhaps Bindi herself wants to go forward with what was originally planned. Yes, undoubtedly she takes cues from those around her.
She is only eight, that said parents have their kids enrolled in lessons and atheltics by then expecting them to carry on.
If she is anything like her father, everyone else’s opinion is going to be over whelmed by her. Good for her.
Edward T. Palsyn says
God Bless Bindi
Jennifer says
Steve Irwin was filming a bit for Bindi’s show when he was killed, so this project for Bindi has been in the works for some time. I also read that Terri has taken both children to a psychologist to help them through this tragedy, which makes it clear that she isn’t going to be forcing Bindi to do something Bindi isn’t ready or willing to do. She is obviously concerned for the well-being of her children.
I wish the entire family well. It’s bad enough that they’ve lost an important and beloved family member . . . they don’t need or deserve the criticism from articles such as this.
Karen says
I agree with Jennifer, above.
The family does not need criticism from articles like this.
I lost my father when I was 12. My mother, sister and I spent that year doing some shopping, sightseeing and visiting museums. We kept busy. It was a good distraction from the pain. The loss will always be there, but sometimes a little distraction helps people to cope.
Give Terri Irwin the respect and credit for making the right decisions for Bindi.
Mary says
What we find stressful, to an 8 year old may be just like playing outside. Bindi has an amazing mom and im sure that her well-being is #1 priority, I say leave her alone and let her do what she wants to do. And enjoy the obvious qualities that she has inherted from her father. I wish her well in her future. The media needs to back off and let her do her thing.
Bee Zee: GalaxyGarden.org says
My Holiday Top (at Bindi’s Blog)
First I went on a plane to Amsterdam. Then I went to Paris, it was lots of fun! In Amsterdam I sometimes visited Dad. I think it was once. After that I went to Paris. It was fun too and I stayed at a beautiful place. Well that was my holiday and I hope if you come to the zoo you have a good time too.
Love Bindi xoxoxox.
Oops I forgot a little bit, the highlight was Disneyland. Me and Mum went on the big thunder mountain ride and had so much fun and we went on lots of playgrounds and stuff too. The End.
http://www.crocodilehunter.com/crocodile_hunter/about_steve_terri/bindi_disneyphoto2_250.jpg
http://www.crocodilehunter.com/crocodile_hunter/about_steve_terri/bindi_say.html
The Irwin itinerary
Thursday: Los Angeles, guest on The Ellen Degeneres Show
Saturday: Los Angeles, Penfold’s Icon Gala Dinner
January 14: Los Angeles, Bindi and The Wiggles’ concert at Ahmanson Theatre
January 17: New York, The Late Show with David Letterman
January 19: Washington DC, National Press Club speech
January 20: New York, Bindi and The Wiggles’ concert at City Centre
January 21: Steve Irwin’s Ocean’s Deadliest airs in the US
Nicole Steinmetz says
Hi I have been watch Bindi on Tv since she was a baby Now on tv she reminds me of her dad and her mom. She will be like her dad that good wants keep what dad did a live…. I hope she and be her own person too.