Robert De Niro has shared a heartfelt message of support for his daughter Airyn De Niro, who recently came out publicly as a transgender woman.
The Oscar-winning actor, 81, said he is proud of Airyn, 29, and supports her completely.
“I loved and supported Aaron as my son, and now I love and support Airyn as my daughter,” De Niro said in a statement shared with Deadline.
“I don’t know what the big deal is. I love all my children.”
Airyn, who began hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in November, spoke about her journey in an interview with Them, explaining how seeing other trans women living openly online helped her realise it wasn’t “too late” to transition.
HRT is a process that many trans people undergo to help align their physical appearance with their gender identity.
In the interview, Airyn said she decided to speak out about her transition because she felt she hadn’t “been seen yet.”
She shared that during gatherings with her father’s family, people often talk fondly about her late mother, model Toukie Smith, and how happy De Niro had been during that relationship.
Those memories inspired her to want to be seen with the same warmth and acceptance.
“Whether it’s just turning on the charm or not putting on a mask, but wanting to be feminine in a way that’s inviting and warm and welcoming,” she said.
Airyn also addressed her famous father’s career, saying she doesn’t consider herself a “nepo baby”, a term used to describe children of celebrities who benefit from their parents’ fame.
“I wasn’t brought up having a side part in one of dad’s movies or going to business meetings or attending premieres,” she said. “My dad was very big on us finding our own sort of path. I would want [success] to happen on my own merit.”
Airyn and her twin brother Julian were born in 1995 during De Niro’s relationship with Smith. The Hollywood legend has seven children in total and has often spoken about the importance of family in his life.
