The Season 33 finale of Dancing With the Stars came to a close with Robert Irwin lifting that Mirrorball Trophy, but the celebration rapidly moved to an online debate when sharp splits occurred among fans over whether Irwin or fellow finalist Alix Earle should have taken home the top prize. Though both were delivering some of their strongest performances all season, the final vote had the audience sharply divided.
Irwin, with his high-energy routines and consistent marks from the judges, closed out the night with a skillful freestyle that got praise for its difficulty and clean execution. For many fans, that made the result feel justified.
“Robert had the technique, the performance quality and the improvement,” said viewer Sofia Zajdman. “You could tell how much work he put in, and I thought the judges recognized that.”
Supporters also mentioned that Irwin had been one of the most versatile dancers since the beginning, consistently receiving high scores and seldom landing in or near the bottom.
But Alix Earle’s fandom was equally adamant that she was the one who should’ve taken home the trophy. Earle-who came into the show a virtual dance newbie-saw some of the largest growth this season, and her finale performances went viral on social media, with many fans thinking she connected more organically with the audience.
“I really thought Alix was going to win,” said sophomore Camila Arancibia, who voted for Alix every night. “She had the biggest improvement and lots people were rooting for her the entire time.”
Some viewers also questioned whether the traditional voting format favored contestants with older fanbases, who are more likely to vote repeatedly during the live show. “The voting feels outdated,” argued DWTS fan Annabel Meath “Younger viewers who supported Alix don’t vote the same way.”
Still, many fans felt that backlash was unfair, and that Irwin had earned the win based solely on performance, regardless of follower counts or online trends.
“No matter who your favorite was, both finalists crushed it,” viewer Camila Martinez  said. “This was one of the strongest finales we’ve had in years.”
Despite disagreement, most of these fans agreed on one thing: both Irwin and Earle delivered finale performances worthy of the spotlight. That debate might still be happening online, but the season wrapped with two standout dancers earning respect across both sides.