Bindi Irwin came to the realization that people handle the loss of a loved one in different ways. The recent "Dancing With the Stars" champion opened up to the Daily Mail about her family's complex relationship since her father, Steve Irwin, passed away in 2006.
Entertainment Tonight reports that Bindi Irwin claims that her own grandfather - Steve Irwin's dad Bob - started drifting away from the rest of the family after Steve's unfortunate death.
While at the 5th annual AACTA Awards in Australia on Wednesday evening, Bindi Irwin explained:
"Everyone deals with grief differently. When my dad passed away he chose to distance himself from everything that dad loved the most. [...] 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.
As it turns out, her grandfather - who still operates the Bob Irwin Wildlife & Conservation Foundation after retiring from the Australia Zoo in 1992 - even rejected some well-intended presents from Bindi's family.
"There was one year where we sent birthday presents to him and he opened them up and he sent them back," shared Bindi Irwin.
She added, "With things like that you realize that people need to deal with grief how they need to deal with grief and as long as it doesn't hurt yourself or hurt those around you then that's the way to go."
Meanwhile, the Sydney Morning Herald reports that 76-year-old Bob Irwin had previously addressed the familial issues with Australian Story back in May.
"Once we lost Steve those were difficult times and a lot of it all I wanted to forget, I suppose. [...] I basically buried myself in physical work, I didn't want anything to do with people. I had things to get sorted out in my own head and that took a long time to get those sorted out. [...] I didn't want to be like a hermit because that wasn't doing me any good."
Bindi Irwin net worth is estimated at $3 million.