Too much for one night! If Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough‘s totally sob-inducing Dancing With the Stars performance honoring the teenager’s late dad, Steve Irwin, wasn’t sad enough, the actress and animal conservationist took to Instagram on Monday, Nov. 23, to share the last photo she ever posed for with her dad.
The picture shows Bindi, 17, Steve, her mom Terri Irwin, and little brother Bob, 11, all posing with one of the Crocodile Hunter’s baby crocs, looking like any other happy, young family, with no idea of the tragedy that was just around the corner.
“The last photo ever taken of us as a family,” Bindi captioned the snap, which shows her beaming an enormous smile as the baby croc sits on her lap. “The day before I had to wave goodbye to my hero, without knowing it would be the last time. But Dad, I know you walk beside me always and your strength lives within me. I love you,” she added.
Fans reacted emotionally to Irwin’s post, reiterating the reaction of the DWTS judges, who gave her top marks for her dance in part one of the Season 21 finale.
“Like the judges said you touched all of our lives,” one Instagram user commented. “At home we cried along with everyone there that is how touching it truly was. Thank you for carrying on your father’s legacy.”
After the show, co-host Erin Andrews admitted Bindi’s strength and emotions have touched everyone.
“It affects me a lot,” she told Us Weekly of Bindi’s experiences. “I can’t ever keep it together when I talk about my dad — he’s the reason why I work sports, and that is so much of my life. My relationship with my dad has molded me so much. That also seems to be the case with [Bindi] and I get very sad because he passed away at such a young age for her,” she continued.
“I can’t imagine how I will be the day I have to say goodbye to my dad, so her whole journey has just been something that’s been so emotional for anybody that’s close with their parents,” she added.
