Robert Irwin 'Almost Died Tonight' During This Week's Episode of 'Dancing with the Stars'

The music had stopped, the lights were dimming, and the ballroom was still buzzing from the night's fiery performances — but behind the scenes, one contestant was silently choking on a sliver of celebration.

He smiled through the pain, waved to the cheering audience, and walked off the stage. Moments later, he would reveal the truth: he had nearly died, and not one person had noticed.

On this week's "Dancing with the Stars," 21-year-old wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin stunned both fans and fellow cast-mates — not just with his dance moves, but with a shocking confession no one saw coming.

Robert Irwin's Rock and Roll Routine Took a Dangerous Turn Off-Camera

Irwin and his partner Witney Carson took the floor on Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night with a dramatic Paso Doble to "Icky Thump" by The White Stripes. It was a bold, theatrical routine that left the judges roaring with praise. But it was what happened after the performance that had jaws dropping.

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Irwin suddenly blurted, "I almost died tonight." As the crowd and hosts leaned in, he elaborated, "I choked on a piece of confetti after the team dance."

Irwin continued his detailed and deeply unsettling account. "Legit, I went over to Witney, and I think they cut away, and I inhaled a piece of confetti," he said, explaining how the moment happened so quickly, cameras didn't even catch it.

"I couldn't breathe," he added, turning to Carson while mimicking the gagging expressions he experienced. The interviewer responded with nervous relief, "Thank goodness, Robert Irwin is still here with us."

Irwin's reply was blunt, "I almost wasn't." Carson, clearly shocked, said that had she known he was in trouble, she would have protected him — no matter what.

'To Lose You Would Be Beyond Tragic': Fans React With Shock And Emotion

The revelation sent "Dancing with the Stars" fans into a frenzy of concern, disbelief, and affection. One person wrote, "Like an onion skin can suddenly cover the trachea and stop our breathing. It's very dangerous if accidentally exhaled [sic]."

Another commented, "Oh Robert 😂❤️ how I love this man even his near death experiences are wholesome [sic]." A fan said, "I'm so glad he's okay! They are both great!!"

One person added, "OMG. Thank goodness you are ok!!!!" Another echoed, "Thank God! And I hate confetti! What a mess to clean up and now dangerous. Can also slip on it [sic]."

Others expressed concern about the production aspect, with one noting, "The confetti is ridiculous and messy." A more emotional reaction came from a commenter who divulged, "I don't even want to think about that happening. To lose you would be beyond tragic. Your angel was watching over you."

"Thank God he is okay," another person expressed. Finally, one fan reflected on the downside of show business. "Risks of the fame and fortune trail."

Paso Doble Earns Praise From The Judges

Before the confetti chaos, Irwin and Carson's performance had already made waves for all the right reasons. As the third couple of the night, Irwin took the stage focused on improving his footwork and shaping his biggest challenge yet.

Derek Hough praised him as a matador who owned his arena, calling the number fantastic despite a small hiccup. Flavor Flav gushed, "I loved the performance. You guys are absolutely amazing," and referred to Irwin as "the brand new Fred Astaire."

Bruno Tonioli erupted with excitement, saying, "The thunder from the down under was unleashed!" and applauded Irwin's classic and theatrical delivery. Carrie Ann Inaba noted a few wobbles but emphasized that Irwin had momentum and gave a strong performance overall.

Speaking with host Julianne Hough after the number, Irwin looked back on the journey, "That was so much fun!" he said, describing it as their hardest week of rehearsals yet.

Their hard work paid off with a score of 38 out of 40. Inaba and Hough awarded 9s, while Tonioli and Flavor Flav each gave a perfect 10.

Star-Studded Night Delivers High Drama And Higher Scores

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-themed episode on November 4 brought intense performances from every couple, each bringing bold storytelling and dynamic energy.

Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa wowed with a jazz routine to "River Deep — Mountain High" by Ike & Tina Turner. Their tight execution and charisma earned them 38 out of 40.

Social media star Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy brought power and flair to their paso doble set to Jon Bon Jovi's "Livin' On a Prayer," earning 39 out of 40. Reality TV's Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach danced a jive to Elton John's "I'm Still Standing" and scored 36 out of 40.

Actress Elaine Hendrix partnered with Alan Bersten for a graceful Viennese waltz to "What the World Needs Now Is Love" by Dionne Warwick, scoring a strong 37 out of 40.

Whitney Leavitt, known for "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," and Mark Ballas gave a commanding paso doble to Ozzy Osbourne's "No More Tears," tying for the top score of 39 out of 40.

Comedian Andy Richter and Emma Slater offered a heartfelt contemporary dance to "God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys. Despite the emotion behind it, they earned the lowest score of the evening with 30 out of 40.

Danielle Fishel's Emotional Exit

Danielle Fishel, of "Boy Meets World" fame, and her partner, Pasha Pashkov, performed a contemporary number to Aerosmith's "Dream On." The judges gave them 34 out of 40, but it wasn't enough to keep them in the running.

They became the seventh couple eliminated from Season 34. "It's meant everything. It has truly been life-changing and every single moment including this one has been joyous," Fishel said. Pashkov responded warmly, "You are now my friend for life."

Team Dances Bring Big Twists – And A Perfect Score

The night closed with a high-stakes team dance showdown. Before the group routines began, it was revealed that Leavitt and Ballas had earned immunity from elimination, thanks to their top scores over the course of the season.

Team Chicago — led by Fishel and joined by host Alfonso Ribeiro — included Leavitt and Ballas, Sosa and Chiles, and Efron and Karagach. Their polished and powerful routine to "25 or 6 to 4" by Chicago earned a perfect 40 out of 40.

Team Kool, led by Richter and Julianne Hough, featured Irwin and Carson, Earle and Chmerkovskiy, and Hendrix and Bersten. Their upbeat performance of "Celebration" by Kool & the Gang earned them 38 out of 40.

While the leaderboard tightens and the pressure mounts, Robert Irwin's terrifying moment backstage lingers as a stark reminder: even in a room full of lights, music, and trained professionals, the unexpected can strike in an instant. Thanks to sheer instinct and a bit of luck, Irwin lived to dance another day.