Steve Irwin’s best mate has come out swinging at rumours that he had a falling out with the Crocodile Hunter’s family – declaring there is no animosity with the clan.
TV producer John Stainton is widely credited with bringing Irwin to the screen and creating an international phenomenon out of the knockabout Australian wildlife enthusiast.
Irwin first ‘amazed’ Stainton with footage of catching crocodiles in the 1980s and he was by his side when a stingray took his friend’s life on the Great Barrier Reef on September 4, 2006.
But Mr Stainton stopped working on projects with the Irwins in 2009 and told Daily Mail Australia he has not returned to Australia Zoo since.
‘It (was) just the end of an era,’ Mr Stainton explained.
Crikey! ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin, on right, with his TV producer mate John Stainton, who helped make him a star, and wife Terri, centre
Stainton guided the family through the media storm following Steve’s death on September 4, 2006. Above, he’s seen with Bindi and Terri on the red carpet of the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards a month after Steve’s passing
Tight knit: Irwin first ‘amazed’ John Stainton with footage of catching crocodiles in the 1980s, with the producer saying he ‘came across so well’
‘When Steve died, I went on for a little while to secure Bindi’s career in TV. That was Bindi the Jungle Girl.
‘Then I decided it was time to do other things.
‘As the family were going to do their own thing, I was doing my thing. We were just on different paths.’
He said there was ‘no animosity’ with the family at the time of his departure, it was ‘all fine’ and rumours to the contrary were ‘bulls***’.
‘My whole career was based around Steve and Bindi … I was doing other television at the same time, and I needed to concentrate more on that.’
Mr Stainton – now a co-founder of Brisbane’s Eat Street markets – said: ‘I wish them continued success’
‘Yes, we parted company, we were going in different directions, that the only thing there. My job with Steve was finished.
‘I mean, people are good at rumours and gossip and all that stuff and I’m not interested.’
Mr Stainton, who is now a co-founder of Brisbane’s weekend Eat Street markets, said he was pleased for the family.
‘I’m so happy for Bindi and her marriage and also Robert, I think he’s doing a great job,’ he said.
‘And Terri’s a great mum, she’s been an incredibly good mum to them,’ he said this week.
He added: ‘I wish them continued success and Bindi a very happy new life’.
In a previous interview with Australian Story, John Stainton said of Steve Irwin: ‘He was comfortable with animals, he was at one. He could understand nearly every animal he dealt with’
After Steve’s death, John told reporters: ‘He died what he … loved doing best. And he left this world in a happy and peaceful state of mind’
Things have not been so smooth for the family itself, with Steve’s older sister, Joy Muscillo, last month revealing she is estranged from his brother’s wife and children.
Ms Muscillo and her husband, Frank, once ran the food court at Australia Zoo, but reportedly walked out in 2016.
‘I keep away from all that,’ she told Daily Mail Australia outside her father’s house. ‘It’s just very sad… family stuff.’
The family rift apparently continues.
Ms Muscillo said she signed a confidentiality agreement after leaving the zoo, but it had expired, and it was a ‘personal’ choice of her’s not to speak out further.
Steve’s father, Bob Snr – the founder of the wildlife sanctuary – abruptly quit the zoo in 2008, reportedly after a dispute with Steve’s wife Terri about its direction.
HOW JOHN STAINTON HANDLED STEVE IRWIN’S SUDDEN DEATH
After a shocking tragedy claimed Steve Irwin’s life in September 2006, his best mate John Stainton was left with the grim task of briefing the world’s media about what happened.
In the mid-naughties, Steve Irwin had long been a symbol of Australia around the world. His larrikin humour, distinctive catchcry (‘crikey!’) and general charisma made his films and TV series a runaway success, particularly in the United States.
So Irwin’s sudden death – stabbed to death by a stingray while producing a documentary off the coast Far North Queensland – attracted the attention of the world.
With Steve’s family utterly bereft, the grim task of explaining what had to the press was placed on Mr Stainton’s shoulders.
John Stainton played a key role in helping the family through Steve’s death. Above, he’s seen with Bob Irwin and an Australia Zoo staff member, two days after the tragedy
‘It was probably the worst experience I’ve ever felt,’ he told Australian Story in 2006.
Mr Stainton recalled how he walked into his first press conference with reporters but was overcome with emotion and said ‘I can’t do this’.
After a few minutes composing himself, he willed himself to continue, telling himself Steve would ‘want you to do this.’
He sat down at the front of the room, and told the world: ‘He died what he … he loved doing best.’
‘He left this world in a happy and peaceful state of mind. He would have said, ‘Crocs rule.’ OK. Questions?”
Steve’s father, Bob (together above) founded the wildlife park and he and his family later picked up the reigns
All together: A young Bindi and Bob with John Stainton (right), Terri Irwin and Bob Sr, after unveiling a memorial statue in 2007
Joy Muscillo – Steve’s sister – and her husband Frank used to run the Australia Zoo food court but left in 2016, with Mrs Muscillo last month revealing she is estranged from his brother’s wife and children
After Steve’s death, Bob said on Australian Story that Mr Stainton ‘was the person that I would like to guide Bindi through the rest of her career’.
But Mr Stainton told the program: ‘You can’t get a second act like Steve. There’s no second act for me.
‘There is the challenge of helping Bindi grow and become a success and that challenge is a separate thing to the excitement and the bonding and the power of what Steve and I created. It’s different. And it’s gone.’
He added: ‘When it comes to the end of the day, Terri is the greatest mum in the world and she knows exactly what is good for Bindi and she will be there to guide it through.
‘It may be some time before I get a direction. And I know we’re going forward.
‘In the long term, I don’t know. I don’t know how I’ll react or cope or what I do or whether I want to give it all away.’
Daily Mail Australia contacted an Australia Zoo spokeswoman for comment on Tuesday.
The Irwins are in the United States, with the family this week appearing on Good Morning America.