After one of his children came out as transgender at 29, Robert De Niro broke his silence to share his emotions.
At 81, De Niro, who has seven children from four relationships, welcomed his youngest child, born to Tiffany Chen, in April 2023.
In an exclusive interview with Them earlier this week, De Niro’s child, Airyn, who was born in 1995 during his relationship with Toukie Smith, revealed she is transgender. Airyn opened up about her struggles with societal beauty standards and the challenges she faced.
In an article titled “Airyn De Niro Is Ready to Be Seen on Her Own Terms”, the 29-year-old shared her personal journey: “It just felt right. I feel this is what I’m supposed to be doing.”
While De Niro’s fame has cast a long shadow over his family for decades, Airyn has largely remained out of the public eye. She expressed gratitude for her parents’ decision to shield her from the limelight, acknowledging that, while no parent is perfect, their intention was always to give her as normal a childhood as possible. “They wanted me to have a private life, to grow up like any other kid,” Airyn told Them.
Airyn De Niro found herself thrust into the public eye after coming out as transgender, but it was her own journey of self-discovery that led her to take bold steps. After seeing other trans women openly share their experiences, she made the decision to start hormone therapy in November 2024.
“Seeing trans women succeed, being open and honest, especially on platforms like social media… it made me think, ‘You know what? Maybe I still have time. I can begin this journey too,'” Airyn shared.
Though she has embraced her transition, the 29-year-old admits that her family may still see her as the person she was before. Despite this, the support she has received from her loved ones has been unwavering.
When asked about his daughter’s coming out, Robert De Niro, in his signature charming yet straightforward style, expressed his deep love for Airyn. “I love and support Airyn as my daughter,” he told People. “I’m not sure what the big deal is. I love all my kids.”
Coinciding with Airyn’s announcement, a recent executive order in the U.S. has sparked debate by restricting expressions of “gender ideology” and public critiques of trans rights. But for Airyn, the journey is personal and resolute. She’s determined to succeed “on my own merit” and is currently pursuing a degree in mental health counseling.
“I hope I can inspire at least one other Black person who is queer and doesn’t fit the conventional mold of beauty,” she expressed to Them. “I want to see more transgender women and Black women who aren’t super thin or fitting into the ‘heroin chic’ ideal. There’s room for all body types.”
