Robert De Niro is expressing “love and assist” for his daughter Airyn De Niro after she just lately got here out as transgender.
“I liked and supported Aaron as my son, and now I really like and assist Airyn as my daughter. I don’t know what the massive deal is,” Robert De Niro, 81, instructed Selection in a press release. “I really like all my youngsters.”
In a latest interview with Them, Airyn, 29, spoke about “moving into this new identification” and shared particulars about rising up as one among seven youngsters within the De Niro family.
“There’s a distinction between being seen and being seen,” Airyn instructed the outlet. “I’ve been seen. I don’t assume I’ve been seen but.”
Airyn stated that “no mum or dad is ideal, however I’m grateful that each my dad and mom agreed to maintain me out of the limelight. They’ve instructed me they needed me to have as a lot of a standard childhood as attainable.”
She additionally spoke candidly about feeling like a “late bloomer.”
“I used to be at all times instructed I used to be an excessive amount of of one thing or not sufficient of one thing rising up: Too huge, not skinny sufficient. Not Black sufficient, not white sufficient. Too female, not masculine sufficient,” she defined. “It was by no means simply, ‘You’re excellent, simply the best way you might be.’”
She revealed that she determined to start hormone remedy final November.

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“I’d wish to hopefully be an inspiration for not less than one different particular person like me who’s Black, who’s queer, who’s not a measurement additional small,” Airyn stated. “I’d wish to see extra trans girls, extra Black girls who’re possibly bigger-bodied or don’t match the mildew of tremendous skinny or heroin stylish.”
Airyn additionally mentioned the folks she’s appeared as much as when deciding to go public along with her transition, together with Orange Is The New Black star Laverne Cox.
“Trans girls being trustworthy and open, particularly (in) public areas like social media and attending to see them of their success,” Airyn stated. “I’m like, ‘You recognize what? Perhaps it’s not too late for me.’”
After studying Airyn’s interview, Cox took to Instagram to share a video devoted to her.
“I simply wish to take a second and provides a particular shout-out to Airyn De Niro. Hello Airyn, I simply learn that I’m one of many girls who’ve impressed you through the years and I’m deeply, deeply honoured that I may be an inspiration for you,” Cox stated.
“I typically have moments — notably in these deeply troubling instances — moments of feeling like I’m not doing sufficient, that I needs to be doing extra. And I at all times should remind myself that if I can contact one particular person’s life, if I can encourage somebody, one particular person, to be extra themselves, to dwell authentically, to embrace each single side of who they’re, then that’s sufficient.
“Studying that from you, Airyn, was a reminder that I’ve sufficient, I’m sufficient and I do sufficient. I wish to congratulate you on embracing the wonder that you’re. And I’m not speaking in regards to the outdoors, I’m speaking in regards to the magnificence that’s being trans.”
After Airyn’s interview was printed, she took to Instagram to thank everybody for all of the assist she’s acquired.
“Thanks to everybody who’s been so candy and supportive! I’m not used to all these eyes on me,” she wrote. “Additionally for the parents asking if I’ve illustration or signed to anybody, I’m actually only a lady with a cellphone, so sorry if I miss your messages!”

A screenshot of Airyn De Niro’s Instagram put up.
@VoiceOfAiryn / Instagram
Airyn’s mom is actor Toukie Smith, who shares Airyn and her twin brother Julian, 29, with De Niro.
The Killers of the Flower Moon actor can also be the daddy of daughter Drena, 53, and son Raphael, 48, whom he shares with ex-wife Diahnne Abbott, to whom he was married from 1976 to 1988.
He’s additionally father to son Elliot, 27, and daughter Helen Grace, 13, whom he shares with ex-wife Grace Hightower. He welcomed his two-year-old daughter Gia with girlfriend Tiffany Chen in April 2023.
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