Robert Irwin has rallied around his sister, Bindi Irwin, after she sadly missed the Steve Irwin Gala in Los Angeles for the second year running.
Speaking at the 2026 Disney Upfront event on May 12, he told PEOPLE about her challenges living with endometriosis.
“Bindi’s journey with endometriosis has been amazing because it’s hard to battle through that. And it’s easy to just let it be a silent kind of battle,” he told the publication.
“But she’s decided to actually amplify that, to spread her story, to share that with people, to help other people. That’s a brave thing. That’s a challenging thing.”
He continued to say that he tried to “follow her lead” by spreading the message about women’s health and the chronic disease.
“So I’m a very proud younger brother,” he continued. “She is amazing in everything she does, and I’m just here to back her 100 per cent.”
Before this, Terri explained that Bindi has been doing “so much better” amid her battle with endometriosis, but had decided to “stay a little closer to home” this year.
Instead, Robert and Terri attended on May 2 in Los Angeles.
“Things like a lot of travel are a bit challenging for her at the moment, and so she’ll be here next year to celebrate this wonderful night,” Terri told E! News.
In 2025, she missed the event due to emergency surgery to remove her ruptured appendix.
What is Bindi Irwin diagnosed with?
The wildlife warrior first publicly revealed that she had been diagnosed with endometriosis in March 2023, shocking fans by sharing a photo of herself in a hospital bed having undergone surgery four days earlier.
The star of Animal Planet had been suffering from debilitating fatigue, pain, and nausea for many years, with medical staff brushing off her concerns because they couldn’t discover a cause.
It was only in August 2022 that Bindi was given answers – thanks to a laparoscopy which uncovered 37 lesions and a cyst on her ovary, which she would later have removed.
Sadly, though, the operation didn’t mark the end of her struggles.
In May 2025, while attending the Steve Irwin Gala in Las Vegas, Bindi was rushed to the hospital because her appendix had ruptured.
The star, who is married to husband Chandler Powell and is a mother to five-year-old daughter Grace Warrior, needed emergency surgery once again.
In an Instagram video shared on May 12, 2025, Bindi gave a post-surgery update.
“I had my appendix removed. I also had 14 new endometriosis lesions that had to be removed, and they kindly stitched up my hernia as well,” the visibly unwell star said.
“I’m sorry if I’m a little out of it in this video. I just wanted you to know that I am on the road to recovery, one step at a time. I am so lucky to have so much love in my life from my beautiful family. Sending love and light your way, and we’ll get through this,” she continued.
Bindi went on to give thanks to Dr Seckin and Dr Chu at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York for their help in making the operation a success.
In August 2025, Bindi then shared an update on her health, revealing how she has improved since her surgery.
Sharing an emotional post to Instagram on August 13, the star tagged Dr Sekin and Dr Chu, writing: “3 years of fighting for answers. 51 endometriosis lesions, a chocolate cyst, and my appendix were all removed across two surgeries with @seckinmd.
“My hernia from giving birth that was unzipping was taken care of. I can FINALLY say that I’m feeling better.
“Genuinely healing. I can function in everyday life without wanting to throw up or pass out from the pain,’ the star went on.
“Slowly, slowly gaining my strength back. I cannot express the gravity of my emotions as I am beginning to recognise myself again.
“I felt utterly ashamed as a teenager and young adult being told that my pain was just part of being a woman. I felt less. I felt hurt. I felt weak,” Bindi concluded.
“That is not ok. Young girls and women shouldn’t feel alone with pain in the driver’s seat of their lives.
“We need to take away the stigma of talking about women’s health. It’s time to have open discussions and make change on a global scale.”
Bindi raises awareness for women’s health and is open about her own struggles with endometriosis to help others.
