# Robert Irwin says media villanised mother, pet chicken died 2026-08-09T08:47:03+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Animal conservationist Robert Irwin has hit out at the media for what he calls the unnecessary villainisation of his mother, Terri Irwin. The 22-year-old said reports had misinterpreted his 'sad face' as proof of a family rift after he was photographed getting off a plane. In reality, he had just learned that his pet chicken, Piggy, had died after 13 years. Speaking to Stellar's 'Something To Talk About' podcast, Irwin said: 'I got off the plane, and there was a bunch of cameras taking photos of me. I was absolutely cut up. They always villainise Mum for some reason.' Times of India reports he also dismissed speculation about his love life, vowing to keep relationships private. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: Australia, celebrity, media, paparazzi, Robert Irwin, Terri Irwin Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/robert-irwin-says-media-villanised-mother-pet-chicken-died/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/robert-irwin-says-media-villanised-mother-pet-chicken-died/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.