‘Wrong guy’: 21yo star passes relationship test, exposes dating truth
Wildlife warrior Robert Irwin has inadvertently exposed men with his response to a viral relationship trend.
“I saw a bird today.”
It’s a sentence many people would shrug off and ask, “Why would I care?”.
But those people aren’t Robert Irwin.
If there’s one thing you can always bet on with an Irwin, it’s that they’ll be fully invested in every animal story you have to tell. Even the ones about fictitious birds.
A viral TikTok posted by the Aussie wildlife warrior’s Dancing With the Stars co-star, Ezra Sosa, at first glance appears to be an innocent chat about a bird sighting.
Only the tale held much deeper meaning. What Irwin didn’t realise was that he was being tested.
Sosa was quietly trying to uncover if the 21-year-old would pass ‘The Bird Theory’.
The test was first coined back in the 1970s by psychologist John Gottman, however it is currently trending online as couples gauge their relationship flaws.
The concept aims to test a partner based on how they respond to small, minor comments and whether a significant other is excited about it.
If a man is interested when his partner mentions a bird, it means he is engaging with curiosity and attentiveness to his partner’s “bids for connection”.
This is a sign of a healthy and stable relationship based on mutual engagement, the theory states.
But if the partner seems uninterested, or dismisses their partner completely, the response is said to be a warning signal that their relationship might need some work
MORE: Robert’s sad fortune left by Steve Irwin
Irwin is immediately invested in the topic of conversation.
“What species?” he asks the ballroom dancer, leaning forward.
“It was like white. Really pretty,” Sosa responds.
Irwin continues to probe for further information, asking if Sosa can guess the bird’s wingspan, beak length, if it was in a tree, if it was calling and if the animal took flight.
“I just saw it. I thought it was really beautiful,” Sosa answers, unable to provide specific details about the non-existent creature.
“That’s really cool. I gotta think on what that might be. White, short beak, medium wingspan. I don’t know. Was it just a pigeon?” Irwin asks.
At one point, Irwin even suggests pulling out a bird book he has on hand, before offering his co-star a high-five – purely because he told him the story.
But it’s Irwin who deserves the high-five, because he passed the test with flying colours.
The video has since gained more than 11 million views, with the comment section waving plenty of green flags for Irwin’s perfect response.
“Best bird theory reaction to date,” praised one social media user.
“This is the ultimate person for the bird theory. He’s so cute,” another said.
“Is it still the bird theory if the subject is only interested in the bird?” a third questioned.
MORE: Robert Irwin’s net wealth revealed
Others suggested asking Irwin anything about birds is a skew to the process.
“Wrong guy to do the bird theory on,” one person joked.
“You don’t do the bird theory on an Irwin. He won’t quit till he finds it,” another teased.
For Sydney relationship expert and dating coach, Samantha Jayne, it wasn’t what Irwin said. It was how he said it.
“It really comes down to the little things that matter most, true connection, feeling heard, validated and important,” Ms Jayne told news.com.au.
However, before testing it on your own relationships, there is some advice you may need to consider.
“If your partner fails your bird theory test, it’s OK, use it as an opportunity to openly connect with them rather than judge,” Ms Jayne said.
“If you use the bird theory test and your partner, it’s a success, that’s great news. You are both very connected right now, if it’s a fail, it’s an opportunity to explore what is going on rather than give it the meaning of a fundamental lack of care.”
She says if your partner seems disinterested in your bird story, it’s not a necessarily a sign you should soar toward break-up territory.
There are a number of reasons someone might disengage. You could have caught them on a bad day, the relationship might be going through a tough phase, or they’re avoiding conflict.
Ms Jayne says it’s an activity that’s a great base to fix a relationship rather than destroy it further.
“If your relationship fails the bird theory test, have an open conversation with your partner, tell them about how much you love connecting with them,” she explained.
Meanwhile if you’re the one who fails the test, it’s an opportunity for personal inward growth.
“Be in the present moment. Be more attentive, put your phone down, listen, ask questions, maintain eye contact and reconnect with your partner … Remember, the bird test is a bid for connection, so go and discover what your partner’s love language is and bring out your listening ears,” she advised.
Originally published as ‘Wrong guy’: 21yo star passes relationship test, exposes dating truth
