Details of Bindi’s US trip kept secret
Bindi Irwin’s movements in the US will be kept top secret as a security precaution to protect the youngster from paparazzi, with the eight year old travelling to Los Angeles today to begin a really tough 10-day schedule as the star of Tourism Australia’s G’Day USA Week, designed to lure US tourists to Australia.
Details of Bindi’s travel arrangements and scheduled American media appearances have been limited to a selected group, by trusted advisors.
Tourism Australia US boss Michael Londregan said the secrecy was necessary to protect her from the intrusive local paparazzi, adding “We just want to be clear that we don’t create a difficult situation for a little girl that we dearly love and respect, adding, “She is phenomenally professional and has grown up in this environment but we are trying to take precautions.”
Los Angeles has one of the biggest pools of paparazzi in the world and with Bindi’s huge international profile she is expected to be the target of the city’s celebrity photographers once she touches down in Tinseltown.
Bindi was to accompany her late father Steve Irwin, who was killed by a stingray in September, on the tour, but she will now be the star, supported by her mother Terri, manager and family friend John Stainton and Australia Zoo director Wes Mannion.
Bindi’s first official engagement on the whirlwind tour, which will also take her to New York and Washington, is a black tie ball on Saturday night where her father will be honoured and she will walk the red carpet before watching as Russell Crowe dedicates the lifetime achievement award to her father in front of a crowd of 1200 of Hollywood’s elite.
The following day Bindi will be the star of the show in her first US stage appearance during a sold-out family concert, which will also feature The Wiggles and Bindi will also film television appearances on The Ellen Degeneres Show, Access Hollywood and Entertainment Tonight.
She will then fly to Washington where she will address the prestigious National Press Club on January 19 before heading to New York to perform in another family concert the following day and make an appearance on The Late Show With David Letterman.
Mr Londregan said he did not believe her schedule was too heavy a load, with the engagements having been determined by her family and management, adding, “It’s a big week in two very big cities” and “Her schedule is in the very good hands of those who know best – they have an incredible love for her and are aware of the pressures.”
Bindi and her brother Bob spent Christmas with Terri’s family in her hometown of Eugene in Oregon.
Report by The Mole
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