Posted on 01/09/2007 9:34:19 PM PST by pissant
Sydney - The eight-year-old daughter of late "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin will star in a high-profile promotional US tour this week, but she will not be forced to perform, her manager said on Tuesday.
Bindi Irwin, whose wildlife television star father was killed by a stingray barb last September, will visit Los Angeles and New York as part of Tourism Australia's G'Day USA week to promote the country.
She is set to perform her song and dance stage show Bindi and The Crocmen and feature on TV talk shows including The Ellen Degeneres Show and The Late Show with David Letterman.
Bindi has shown remarkable resilience in the wake of her father's death, delivering a spirited eulogy during the worldwide broadcast of his funeral, but some critics have objected to her exposure to the spotlight at such an early age.
Irwin family manager and friend John Stainton said critics did not realise she had been "brought up in a different world" at the family's Australia Zoo.
"She is used to cameras and performing. Her dad taught her so much about wildlife and working to cameras," he said. "It's a part of her life, it's like ballet is to another girl."
He said Bindi would be given the chance to pull out of any engagements on the US trip.
"My criteria is if Bindi doesn't want to do it that day, if she wants to go to the zoo or the beach, then that's what we're doing," he told national radio.
"If she decides she doesn't want to do the Letterman Show, which tapes at five o'clock in the afternoon, if she's tired or she doesn't want to do it, there's no pressure on her to do anything at all."
Bindi had been set only to accompany her father on the promotional tour but will now be the star herself, with the support of her American-born mother Terri.
Steve Irwin, who won a worldwide following with his Crocodile Hunter TV series, was killed while filming a documentary off the Australian coast.
Six weeks later, Bindi resumed filming her own wildlife series, Bindi the Jungle Girl, for the American Discovery Channel.
I doubt her father, Steve< would approve of that ... Just as the film crew agreed to finish their taping ... and meet the deadlines ... last show of Steve alive will be aired Jan 21st - they agreed to finish it and they did. It wasn't a matter of what they FELT like doing.
I hope they don't make a mess out of this little girl, Bindi.
Bindi looks just like her Daddy, Steve!
How darling! I watched most of Letterman, but was in and out and Bindi wasn't on, as I'd heard yesterday she would be.
I came back in the room as Dave was saying something about some wild animals and making a joke and then he told the audience they were all up to date on that - so I'm guessing it might have been about Bindi and her not being on - but I never heard anything more.
If you people take over the raising the kid, at least decide first whether she is being exploited or spoiled.
Just lately, I saw her on the tube with her mom and some guy dressed to look almost exactly like her dad.
Creeped me out. Remember in the movie "The Stepford Wives" when the guy was making love to his robot wife and her eyes suddenly went totally expressionless?
This is like Stephen King stuff or something!
Thanks for the ping; I had no idea Bindi was going to do all these shows.
Here is a Wonderful Pic; the Look on Dear Steve's Face is So Loving; he is So Proud of his Children.
<< Found it:
Larry King Live on CNN
Thursday's show
Terri Irwin with daughter, Bindi.
An emotional prime time exclusive. Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin's widow Terri and their daughter on coping with his shocking death.
• E-mail the Irwin family your questions >>
AW, I missed it!!!! :-(
That would have been a great one to see....
Personally I find it sad that a child who just lost one of her parents is on a promotional tour.
Whats the rush?
Oh boy - can you say "exploitation?"
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