“DWTS Season 21” winner Bindi Irwin is overjoyed on winning the mirror ball trophy last month. However, the Queenslander is simualtaneously dealing with an emotional turmoil on the family front as she recently opened up about the family's estrangement from her grandfather.

The daughter of late Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, discussed about her family issue for the first time during the 5th annual AACTA Awards.

"Everyone deals with grief differently. When my dad passed away, he chose to distance himself from everything that dad loved the most," Bindi told Mail Online Australia at the AACTA Awards on Wednesday.

"At the moment we're really just respecting his wishes because he hasn't had anything to do with us for a long time and he decided his own path. That's important, so good for him," Bindi added.

However, Bindi’s grandfather Bob Irwin has time and again appreciated Bindi for her successful stint on “DTWS Season 21.” After Bindi’s victory on the show, Bob Irwin told The Herald Sun that he was enormously proud of his granddaughter. But this time, Bob chose not to respond to Bindi’s comments, E! News reported.

The family ties strained after the demise of Bindi’s dad, Steve Irwin, on Sept. 4, 2006. He was stabbed in the chest by a stingray barb while shooting a wildlife documentary at the age of 44. Bindi utilized the “DTWS” platform to pay tribute to Steve with her performance.

Bob opened up about the family feud during an interview with The Sunday Mail in 2010. In the interview, he hinted towards his dispute with Bindi's mother, Terri Irwin as she reportedly stopped Bob from meeting Bindi or her brother Robert.

Though Bob was proud of Bindi’s victory in the show, he maintained that they were still not in touch. During the interview with The Sunday Mail, Bob told that he last met Steve’s wife and children in 2008 during an event at the family's wildlife park.

Bindi recently visited the Australia Zoo with her “DTWS” partner Derek Hough.

Contact the writer of this story at feedback@ibtimes.com.au or let us know what you think below.

RELATED STORIES