Robert De Niro breaks silence after child Airyn, 29, comes out as transgender: ‘Not a big deal’
Hollywood legend Robert De Niro has publicly voiced his support for his daughter Airyn after she recently came out as transgender, with the 81-year-old Oscar winner releasing a heartfelt statement.
His supportive words came shortly after Airyn, 29, revealed her gender identity in an interview with LGBTQ+ publication Them.
In her interview with Them, Airyn opened up about beginning hormone replacement therapy in November 2024 and explained that seeing other transgender women living openly online helped her realise it wasn’t “too late” to transition.
“Trans women being honest and open, especially [in] public spaces like social media and getting to see them in their success… I’m like, you know what? Maybe it’s not too late for me,” she told the publication.
Airyn also discussed how she hopes to serve as a role model for queer women of colour creating their own definition of beauty, candidly speaking about the difference between visibility and genuine recognition.
“There’s a difference between being visible and being seen,” she said. “I’ve been visible. I don’t think I’ve been seen yet.”
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She reflected on past struggles with acceptance, particularly within the gay community after coming out as a gay man in high school and added: “[Gay men were] ruthless and mean. I didn’t even fit that beauty standard,” she revealed.
Airyn also discussed how her transition has connected her more deeply with her Black identity and explained: “I think stepping into this new identity, while also being more proud of my Blackness, makes me feel closer to them in some way.”
Issuing a statement on his daughter’s new identity, De Niro said: “I loved and supported Aaron as my son, and now I love and support Airyn as my daughter. I don’t know what the big deal is… I love all my children.”
Airyn is one of De Niro’s seven children from four different relationships, with her and her twin brother being born to De Niro and actress Toukie Smith, who dated from 1988 to 1996.
De Niro’s other children include daughter Drena, 53, and son Raphael, 48, with ex-wife Diahnne Abbott, with has son Elliot, 27, and daughter Helen Grace, 13, coming from ex-wife Grace Hightower.
Most recently, the actor welcomed daughter Gia, now 2, with his current girlfriend Tiffany Chen in April 2023.
Airyn spoke warmly about her upbringing, appreciating how her parents kept her out of the spotlight.
“Obviously no parent is perfect, but I am grateful that both my parents agreed to keep me out of the limelight. They wanted it very private,” she said.
She rejected the “nepo baby” label often applied to children of celebrities.
“I wasn’t brought up having a side part in one of dad’s movies or going to business meetings or attending premieres. My dad was very big on us finding our own sort of path,” Airyn explained.
She emphasised wanting success based on her own merits rather than her father’s fame.
Airyn expressed her desire to be a role model for underrepresented groups