Cliff Notes – Robert De Niro gets special message from daughter after she comes out as trans
- Airyn De Niro publicly came out as a trans woman, thanking her parents for their unwavering support and acceptance during her transition.
- In a heartfelt video, she acknowledged her privilege and urged empathy towards others facing different challenges in the current climate.
Robert De Niro gets special message from daughter after she comes out as trans
Robert De Niro’s daughter, Airyn, shared a sweet message of thanks (Picture: AP)
Robert De Niro’s daughter has thanked him for being so accepting after she came out as trans.
Earlier this week, Airyn De Niro publicly came out as a trans woman in an interview with Them, revealing she began hormone therapy in November 2024.
The Goodfellas actor – who shares the 29-year-old with model Toukie Smith – later offered a heartwarming message, insisting he that he has always loved and supported her.
In a new video social media, Airyn took a moment to shout out those who had reached out after the chat made headlines around the world.
‘I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who sent me all their love and support. Friends, family, strangers, old peers from school, thank you for reaching out, it means a lot,’ she began, before thanking interviewer Ava Pauline Emilione and Laverne Cox by name.
‘I also want to say thank you to my mom and dad for supporting me, and accepting me, and always being there when I need them.
Airyn publicly came out as a trans woman recently (Picture: Instagram)
‘I could not have asked for better parents. So thank you.’
Airyn also revealed she had been approached to follow in her famous father’s footsteps, with offers of movie roles as well as fashion shows
‘I know, I definitely recognize I come from a place of privilege, given the environment I live in and who my family is,’ she continued.
‘I don’t feel I’m as deserving of those opportunities – or even as much praise as I’m getting.
Robert De Niro and Toukie Smith welcomed the budding actress in 1995 (Picture: Getty)
‘While I recognize coming out is an act of bravery, especially given the current climate of things, there are folks who have it much harder than I do.’
Airyn ended the six-minute clip by urging: ‘To the folks who support, and to those who don’t support me, I ask that we try to be mindful of other people’s circumstances, especially if we don’t know them.
‘Approach others who think differently than you, or have other views or beliefs than you on anything, try to approach it with more curiosity and give others grace.
‘That’s something I think we need more of. The world is heavily lacking empathy so I just thought that was important to say.’
She shared a lengthy video on social media (Picture: Instagram)
Robert and Toukie welcomed Airyn and her twin brother Julian in October 1995.
The budding actress has been ‘femme-presenting since middle school’, and initially came out as a gay man in high school, before deciding on hormone therapy at the end of last year.
Speaking to Them, she explained that she was inspired by seeing others being ‘honest and open, especially [in] public spaces like social media and getting to see them in their success’.
Robert issued a statement after the interview was published (Picture: Getty)
It was this that made her realize that ‘maybe it’s not too late for me’.
‘There’s a difference between being visible and being seen,’ she said. ‘I’ve been visible. I don’t think I’ve been seen yet.’
Robert, who has fathered five other children over the years, later told Variety in a statement: ‘I loved and supported Aaron as my son, and now I love and support Airyn as my daughter.’
‘I don’t know what the big deal is,’ he added. ‘I love all my children.’