Robert De Niro expresses unwavering love and support for trans daughter

Robert De Niro has shown steadfast support for his trans daughter, Airyn. In a statement to Variety, the Oscar-winning actor remarked, “I loved and supported Aaron as my Aaron, and now I love and support Airyn as my daughter.” He added, “I don’t know what the big deal is. I love all my children.”

According to ‘Gay Times’, earlier in the week, Airyn publicly identified as trans in an interview with Them, expressing that sharing her true identity “feels right.” She acknowledged that the visibility of other trans women motivated her on this journey. “Seeing them succeed and be honest in public spaces,” she noted, inspired her to think, “Maybe it’s not too late for me. Maybe I can start.”

She discussed the contrast between recognition and visibility: “There’s a difference between being visible and being seen. I’ve been visible. I don’t think I’ve been seen yet.”

Airyn, who is one of De Niro’s seven children and the daughter of model Toukie Smith, also spoke about the impact of Black women on her life. “Embracing this new identity while taking pride in my Blackness,” she said, “makes me feel more connected to them.”

Airyn revealed her worry that her family might still see her as she was prior to her transition. “I worry they’ll still think of me as the person I was before the transition,” she confessed. Nonetheless, she remains committed to being a source of strength and representation for the Black LGBTQ+ community, particularly for those who don’t conform to narrow beauty standards.

“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,” she expressed, hoping for role models like “an Alex Consani or a Hunter Schafer for queer people of color and bigger-bodied individuals.”

Airyn also shared her aspiration to model, a career path her mother followed. “A part of me has always wanted to model,” she admitted. “Being on the cover of Vogue with her, or recreating one of her photos, would be a dream come true.”

De Niro’s support comes amidst ongoing threats to trans rights, as the Trump administration seeks to reduce protections for trans individuals. This includes efforts to limit access to gender-affirming healthcare, restrict sports participation, and narrowly define gender legally, raising concerns among LGBTQ+ advocates.

On a hopeful note, De Niro joins a growing number of prominent figures who have publicly supported their trans children and, by extension, trans rights. This group includes Charlize Theron, Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union, Jamie Lee Curtis, Cher, Annette Bening and Warren Beatty, Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber, and Sade.