Bindi Irwin is facing backlash from inside her own camp for accusing her estranged grandfather Bob Irwin Snr of ignoring her as a child.

The 22-year-old made headlines on Sunday after she posted a scathing Facebook post about her strained relationship with Bob, 83, claiming the ageing conservationalist ‘never said a single kind word’ to her and ‘returned gifts she’d given him after they were opened.’

While Bob has yet to publicly reply, members of his inner circle have been quick to fire back.

‘Steve would be furious’: Bindi Irwin, 22, (pictured) is facing backlash from inside her own camp for accusing her estranged grandfather Bob Irwin Snr, 83, of ignoring her as a child

Bethany Wheeler, another granddaughter of Bob by marriage, has since shared a searing response to Bindi in a post on her own Facebook page, declaring: ‘The time has come to speak up.’

‘I read some absolutely appalling comments by Bindi today! Feel free to share this post (I will make it public) as we have all been silent and we have all felt sick reading the lies for too long,’ she wrote.

Bethany, whose stepmother Mandy is Bob’s daughter, defended her grandfather’s character, calling him ‘one of the most genuinely beautiful humans on this planet’ who has ‘never spoken out or put down anybody.’

Feud: Bindi made headlines on Sunday after she posted a scathing Facebook post about her strained relationship with Bob (pictured) claiming the ageing conservationalist ‘never said a single kind word’ to her and ‘returned gifts she’d given him after they were opened;

‘He is a man who sits silently and battles his demons alone, in what is great sadness. He doesn’t retaliate, only prays for his grandchildren’s safety and good lives,’ she continued.

Bethany went on to thank Bob for showing ‘absolute love, respect, support and encouragement’ throughout her life.

‘My sisters and brothers will happily back me up when I say that Bob Irwin is a passive and beautiful human and these lies need to stop,’ she added.

Breaking her silence: Bethany Wheeler, (second left) another granddaughter of Bob (left) by marriage, has since shared a searing response to Bindi in a post on her own Facebook page, declaring: ‘The time has come to speak up.’ Pictured: Bethany’s wedding to husband Wayne Wheeler

Meanwhile, Amanda French, who co-wrote Bob’s autobiography The Last Crocodile Hunter, has also shared a scathing response to Bindi on Facebook, accusing the new mother of assassinating her grandfather’s character.

‘To read the sad comments online today has sickened me, and people who are closest to him,’ she wrote in a lengthy essay on her own Facebook page.

French described Bob as ‘kind, gentle, generous and extremely f**king introverted,’ and warned her readers not to believe everything they read online.

‘To read the sad comments online today has sickened me’: Amanda French (right) who co-wrote Bob’s (left) autobiography The Last Crocodile Hunter, has since shared a scathing response to Bindi on Facebook, accusing the new mother of assassinating her grandfather’s character

‘It is disappointing to have written what was written. To call a man [what Bindi called him] who has not once retaliated, simply buried his head in the sand and got on with his life in a meaningful way is gaslighting,’ she wrote.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph on Monday, Amanda called Bindi’s attack ‘disappointing’ and ‘heartbreaking’, and insisted Bob loves his family ‘more than you know’.

‘He hasn’t seen you since you were 10. He’s done all he knows how to do and that is bury his head in the sand because that’s how he copes,’ she said, referring to the tragic death of Bob’s son Steve in 2006.

It’s immature to write such words’: Speaking to The Daily Telegraph on Monday, Amanda called Bindi’s attack ‘disappointing’ and ‘heartbreaking’, and insisted Bob loves his family ‘more than you know’

‘This should be a private matter not written about on Facebook. I’m so disappointed to read this. It’s immature to write such words. We could turn this around and say he supported your family financially by handing you the keys to the very property he built with his bare hands,’ she said.

Elsewhere, Bob’s other granddaughter Toni Johnstone has claimed Steve would be ‘furious’ reading his daughters accusations.

Commenting beneath Amanda’s Facebook post about Bindi’s claims, Toni wrote: ‘I honestly cannot believe how [Bindi] can…. [accuse Bob of these things] and then preach ‘let’s be kind to one another’ in the same post.’

Lashing out: Meanwhile, Bob’s other granddaughter Toni Johnstone has claimed Steve would be ‘furious’ reading his daughters accusations

Toni, whose mother Mandy is Steve’s sister, added: ‘Hopefully people will finally see Bindi and Terri for what they really are. Let’s hope they remember who built the zoo that made them who they are today.’

‘What was written by Bindi was so far from the truth it’s not funny. Poppy is the most caring, loving, beautiful soul and I am so incredibly lucky to have him as my grandfather,’ she continued in another comment.

Toni went on to say she was ‘puzzled’ why Bindi would make such ‘horrible’ claims about Bob, and why anyone would believe them.

Confused: Toni said she was ‘puzzled’ why Bindi would make such ‘horrible’ claims about Bob, and why anyone would believe them. Pictured: Robert, Teri and Bindi Irwin

‘All I hope is that not everyone believes and takes as the only truth what this misguided girl has written about someone that every one should strive to be like in life at some point,’ she wrote.

The Irwin family feud was blasted wide open on Sunday when Bindi responded to a fan criticising her decision to exclude Bob from a post she’d written about ‘the fathers in her life’ on Facebook.

Bindi had uploaded sweet post celebrating Father’s Day in the USA, saying she was thankful for the ‘three most incredible fathers in her life’; her late father Steve Irwin, her husband Chandler Powell and her father-in-law Chris.

Breaking her silence: Bindi (pictured with husband Chandler Powell) sensationally spoke out about her strained relationship with her estranged grandfather Bob in a scathing Facebook comment

When one fan asked why she hadn’t included her grandfather – Steve’s father, Bob – Bindi gave an uncharacteristically raw account of their relationship, claiming he’s ignored her since she was a ‘little girl’.

The mother-of-one wrote: ‘I really wish that my entire family could spend time with Grace. Unfortunately, my grandfather Bob has shown no interest in spending time with me or my family.’

She went on to claim that Bob had ‘returned gifts I’ve sent after he opened them’, and ignored any letters sent from her.

Claims: When one fan asked why she hadn’t included her grandfather – Steve’s father, Bob (far right) – Bindi (far left) gave an uncharacteristically raw account of their relationship. Pictured with mother Terri (second right) and brother Robert (second left) in 2007, one year after Steve’s death

Speaking out: The mother-of-one wrote: ‘I really wish that my entire family could spend time with Grace. Unfortunately, my grandfather Bob has shown no interest in spending time with me or my family’

Thankful: Bindi had commented on a sweet Father’s Day post celebrating the ‘three most incredible fathers in her life’ ; her late father Steve Irwin, her husband Chandler Powell and her father-in-law Chris

‘From the time I was a little girl he has ignored me, preferring to spend time doing anything else rather than being with me,’ she continued.

‘He has never said a single kind word to me personally. It breaks my heart.’

She went on to say that her mother Terri still writes to him and sends birthday cards and Christmas gifts, but claims they have received no reply.

Strained: ‘He has never said a single kind word to me personally. It breaks my heart.’ Bindi claims. Pictured: Bob holding a photograph of Bindi in 2008

‘We have also been his financial support since 1992 when he returned from Australia Zoo, sending him funds every week,’ she added.

‘We built him a house on a beautiful property and will always do our best to ensure his wellbeing.

‘I hope everyone remembers to be kind to one another but most of all care for your own mental health.

‘I have struggled with this relationship my entire life and it brings me enormous pain.’

Bindi, who welcomed her first daughter Grace in March, concluded by saying she has to ‘choose to care for her own mental health now’.

Bob previously spoke to the media about the alleged family feud that left him estranged from his granddaughter.

‘We have also been his financial support since 1992 when he returned from Australia Zoo, sending him funds every week,’ she added. Pictured, Bob Irwin and wife Judy at the RSPCA in Brisbane in 2008

In September 2019, he told the Courier Mail that he had not received a response since writing a letter to Bindi in which he wished her well after she announced her engagement to her now-husband Chandler in July.

He claimed their latest dispute stemmed from a misunderstanding after a reporter walked onto his property hoping to get a comment on what he thought about the engagement.

When Mr Irwin refused to answer, it was mistakenly taken as a begrudged silence. Photos of him at his home were also splashed across the tabloids, only fuelling the false impression that he was unhappy with the upcoming marriage.

Helping hand: ‘We built him a house on a beautiful property and will always do our best to ensure his wellbeing,’ said Bindi. Pictured, Bob Irwin’s farm outside Kingaroy, 2008

He said he wasn’t invited to the wedding, and didn’t expect to be.

‘If they wanted to, of course I would,’ he had said.

‘I get messages (from friends) constantly about how Bob and Bindi are doing, what achievements they’ve made, what interests they have, and I also watch television like everyone else.

‘They keep me up-to-date. Both Bindi and Bob have achieved a lot in a short space of time; mind you, they’re both only young yet. But they’ve done well and I would say Steve would be pretty happy with the way they’re doing.’