Steve Irwin‘s best friend John Stainton has opened up about the rumours that he had a falling out with Terri Irwin and the rest of the Crocodile Hunter’s family.
The TV producer famously introduced the world to Steve after being ‘amazed’ by footage of Steve catching crocodiles in the 1980s.
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John widely recognised as the brains behind Steve’s international success but reportedly stopped working on the project with the Irwin family in 2009, telling The Daily Mail that he has not returned to Australia Zoo since.
“It (was) just the end of an era,” he told the publication.
“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.”
John confirmed that there was ‘no animosity’ with the Crocodile Hunter’s family and that the rumours 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,” he explained.
“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.”
John – who was at Steve’s side when a stingray took his life on the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland in 2006 – told The Daily Mail that he was happy 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 added: “I wish them continued success and Bindi a very happy new life.”
WATCH: Terri Irwin’s first emotional TV interview after Steve’s death
The news comes a month after Steve’s older sister, Joy Muscillo revealed that she is estranged from Terri, Bindi and Robert.
Joy once ran the food court at Australia Zoo with her husband, Frank Muscillo, but reportedly left in 2016.
She told The Daily Mail that she keeps “away from all that” and “It’s just very sad… family stuff.”
According to the publication, Steve’s father, Bob Irwin – the founder of the wildlife sanctuary – quit the zoo in 2008 after a dispute with Steve’s wife Terri about its direction.
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