Bindi Irwin dished recently about a sad estrangement within her family. It’s been years since she, mom Terri Irwin, and brother Bob have seen their grandfather–the late Steve Irwin’s dad, Bob Irwin.

'Everyone deals with grief differently': Bindi Irwin's rift with grandfather Bob Irwin https://t.co/xZtD1jvYjb pic.twitter.com/uTgJOABo4a

— Stuff.co.nz News (@NZStuff) December 10, 2015

Since competing on–and winning–this season of Dancing With the Stars, Bindi Irwin’s worldwide popularity has soared. People love learning things about the 17-year-old conservationist. Sadly, not everything they learn is happy.

“Everyone deals with grief differently,” Bindi Irwin The Daily Mail Australia at the 5th annual AACTA Awards on Wednesday. “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,” she added. “That’s important, so good for him.”

Bob Irwin recently told The Herald Sun that he was “enormously proud” of Bindi’s accomplishments on Dancing With the Stars–but he still hasn’t been in touch.

In 2010, Bob Irwin told the same publication that he and Terri Irwin had some sort of rift. Terri hasn’t commented.

.@BindiIrwin having a laugh with 1 of our kookaburras! We’ve all been non-stop celebrating her win on @dancingabc! pic.twitter.com/CZB13V7hqh

— Australia Zoo (@AustraliaZoo) December 8, 2015

It seems the last time Bindi Irwin and her family saw her estranged grandfather was back in 2008. The two share so much in common. Bob operates The Bob Irwin Wildlife & Conservation Foundation. Bindi Irwin, of course, is following in her famous father’s footsteps. How sad that the two can’t share these passions with one another.

It must be painful for Bindi Irwin to have lost contact with her grandfather. Hopefully one day Bob Irwin will set his feelings aside for the sake of his grandchildren. Even if he and Terri have experienced a falling out, the grandkids shouldn’t be punished for it.