May 26, 2025 by apost team
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In April 2025, Robert De Niro’s daughter, Airyn De Niro, came out as transgender. Her father, the 81-year-old “Goodfellas” actor, shares 29-year-old Airyn and her twin brother Julian with actress Toukie Smith. In an interview with the magazine Them, Airyn explained her need to be seen on her terms and forge her path before coming out as transgender.
“There’s a difference between being visible and being seen,” Airyn, 29, told the outlet. “I’ve been visible. I don’t think I’ve been seen yet.”
Previously, multiple publications had reported on Airyn’s recent appearance and gotten “information wrong.” However, the actress and model took the time to define herself in her terms, saying:
“They just sort of reminded me that people really don’t know anything about me.”
Contrary to popular belief and the mislabeling of Airyn as a “nepo baby” because of her parents’ careers and influence, her famous father has always ensured that his children paved their way and got rewarded on merit.
“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… I would want (success) to happen on my own merit,” she clarified.
However, she has made the most of all this, even offering gratitude to her parents for keeping her away from Hollywood. As a result, she had a childhood that was as close to normal as possible.
“Obviously, no parent is perfect, but I am grateful that both my parents agreed to keep me out of the limelight,” she said. “They have told me they wanted me to have as much of a normal childhood as possible.”
Toukie Smith, Robert De Niro (1990), (John Barrett/IMAGO Images)
Following Airyn’s public reveal about being transgender, her father, Robert, revealed his thoughts and feelings about it. In a statement to Variety, the actor shared his support for his daughter’s announcement, stating:
“I loved and supported Aaron as my son, and now I love and support Airyn as my daughter.”
He followed up the profound statement with a blanket one expressing his love for all his seven children, whose ages range from 53 to 2. Robert added:
“I don’t know what the big deal is,” he said. “I love all my children.”
Airyn also had words of encouragement for others, opening up about body dysmorphia and self-acceptance growing up.
“I was always told I was too much of something or not enough of something growing up: Too big, not skinny enough. Not Black enough, not white enough. Too feminine, not masculine enough,” she shared.
“It was never just, ‘You’re just right, just the way you are.’”
As for her next steps, the model and actress expressed her desire to represent Black and queer women who may not fit body and beauty standards.
“I’d want to hopefully be an inspiration for at least one other person like me who is Black, who is queer, who’s not a size extra small,” Airyn asserted. “I’d want to see more trans women, more Black women who are maybe bigger-bodied or don’t fit the mold of super thin or heroin chic.”
Advocacy is a strong part of her intended representation, as she also spoke out about prioritizing mental health support for queer people and people of color, concluding:
“People of color and queer people definitely need more mental health advocacy and support. So I’m hoping I’m able to do that.”
apost.com
Robert De Niro (2025), (Andrew Sims/IMAGO Images)
What are your thoughts on this? Were you touched by Robert De Niro’s support of Airyn and his children? Let us know what you think, and don’t hesitate to pass this on to all Robert De Niro fans you know!
