Robert Irwin fans point out awkward detail after he shares new picture with his mum
Fans of Robert Irwin learned a lesson this week about the importance of not jumping to conclusions.
Taking to Instagram on Sunday (20 July), the 21-year-old conservationist - and son of late crocodile hunter Steve Irwin - shared a sweet series of snaps alongside his mother, Terri, to celebrate her 61st birthday.
"Happy birthday, Mum," he penned in the simple caption, alongside a red love-heart emoji.
In the photo burst, the mother-son duo could be seen standing close to one another in a lush field of green, presumably around sunset.
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The Irwins also looked adoringly at each other, laughing, their hands several inches from one another's.
Mother-of-two Terri herself had responded to the upload in the comments, writing back to her son: "I am truly blessed to be your mum."
Unfortunately for Robert, however, the zookeeper and TV presenter's birthday tribute was somewhat tainted by a number of his social media followers, who misunderstood the meaning behind the post.
Instead of clocking onto the fact that the women in the photographs was his mother Terri - the zookeeper and owner of Australia Zoo in Queensland - many believed the youngster was debuting a new love interest online.
"Thought this was a soft launch for a minute almost fell down to my knees in the middle of Target," one fan penned in the comments.
Another wrote: "For a second i was like WHO THE F**K…oh... it’s the mom."
A third fan even went on to jibe: "Phew thought you were cheating on me for a second."
Thankfully, however, the vast majority of fans seemingly realised who the woman in the photo was after Robert shared another photo from his childhood years, and began firing birthday tributes towards Terri themselves.
"Happy Birthday to the mom who has touched lives around the world!" one wrote.
Another added: "Gorgeous photos. Another trip around the sun. Best wishes Terri."
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TERRI!!!! LETS GOOO," gushed a third.
This wouldn't be the first time that animal-lover Robert's social media antics have caused quite the stir.
Who else remembers the rather risqué collaboration he did earlier this year with underwear brand Bonds - the images from which went absolutely viral online?
Cleverly titled 'Made for Down Under,' the shoot saw Robert posing among real-life snakes, spiders and crocodiles, all the while sporting the brand's boxer-style undies.
"Suddenly I'm obsessed with crocodiles," one user wrote online at the time.
"Whoa! When did this dude become this f**king hot?" another asked, whilst a third simply commented: "Crikey!"
His mum even responded to the global scale that the images reached whilst chatting to press ahead of the Steve Irwin Gala in Las Vegas, which celebrates the life and legacy of the late zookeeper.
"That's a whole 'nother legacy," Terri joked to ET of her son's modelling debut. "I probably did 10 or 15 more sit ups after seeing that."
Rhianna Benson