Robert De Niro issues message of support to daughter Airyn after she comes out as transgender

Robert De Niro has shared a supportive message to his daughter Airyn after she came out as transgender.

Airyn, who has a twin brother named Julian Henry De Niro, is the daughter of De Niro and Toukie Smith, 72.

Speaking to the LGBTQ+ publication Them, Airyn opened up about her journey after beginning hormone therapy in November 2024.

"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 explained. “Maybe I can start.

"... I think a big part of [my transition] is also the influence Black women have had on me.

“I think stepping into this new identity, while also being more proud of my Blackness, makes me feel closer to them in some way.”

Airyn spoke about her transition candidly in an interview this week (Instagram/@voiceofairyn)

She also candidly shared her concerns about how her family would process her transition.

“I think part of me is concerned that [my family] will maybe still think of me as the person I was before the transition,” she added.

“... Whenever I’m at a family gathering on my dad’s side, people would always talk about how much they love my mom and how memorable she was and how happy my dad was when he was with her.

“I want to be like that… I want to be remembered the way that people remember her.

“The way [my mom] would conduct or hold herself, the way that I saw her interact with others in public when I was younger, I see myself emulating that in some way.”

The Goodfellas star has issued a loving comment about his daughter, emphasising that he ‘loves and supports’ his child.

Robert De Niro supports his daughter (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

“I loved and supported Aaron as my son, and now I love and support Airyn as my daughter,” the 81-year-old said as per TMZ.

“I don't know what the big deal is ... I love all my children.”

In addition to her transition, Airyn also shared her thoughts on having a famous dad and nepotism. "I wasn't brought up having a side part in one of dad's movies or going to business meetings or attending premieres," she told Them. "My dad was very big on us finding our own sort of path.

"I would want [success] to happen on my own merit."

She added: “I had two auditions for this video game, League of Legends.

“It’s one of the biggest video games I play all the time with friends. I was like, ‘Oh my God. That’d be so cool. It would be a make-it-or-break-it moment for me.’

"Obviously it didn’t happen. I was like, 'What’s the point?’ It’s the really big auditions that you’re like, ‘F**k, this could have been life-changing, but it just I wasn’t the right fit.’ And sometimes it’s hard to not internalise that.”