Robert De Niro's trans daughter has issued a public message after the legendary actor reacted to her coming out.
Airyn De Niro, who is the daughter of De Niro and actress Toukie Smith, recently shared her story with Them magazine, revealing that she began hormone therapy in November 2023.
In response to her public coming out, Robert De Niro issued a moving statement, telling PEOPLE: "I loved and supported [...] my son, and now I love and support Airyn as my daughter. I don't know what the big deal is. I love all my children."
Airyn, who has a twin brother named Julian, posted an emotional Instagram video following the article’s release, where she thanked the outpouring of support she received from family, friends, and even strangers.
“I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who sent me all their love and support,” she began. “Friends, family, strangers, old peers from school, thank you for reaching out, it means a lot.”
She also gave special thanks to Them interviewer, Ava Pauline Emilione, and actress Laverne Cox, calling her an “icon” and “legend.”
“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. I could not have asked for better parents. So thank you,” she added.
Despite being born into Hollywood royalty, Airyn says her parents were determined to give her and her brother a “normal” childhood, largely shielding them from the public eye.
“Obviously, no parent is perfect, but I am grateful that both my parents agreed to keep me out of the limelight,” she told Them. “They have told me they wanted me to have as much of a normal childhood as possible.”
But now, she’s ready to step into the spotlight on her own terms: “There’s a difference between being visible and being seen. I’ve been visible. I don’t think I’ve been seen yet.”
Airyn also opened up about her mixed-race background and the journey of accepting every part of herself.
“I was always told I was too much of something or not enough of something growing up: Too big, not skinny enough. Not Black enough, not white enough. Too feminine, not masculine enough. It was never just, ‘You’re just right, just the way you are.’”
She credited The Little Mermaid star Halle Bailey and Black women in general for inspiring her transition: “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 revealed that since coming out, she’s received offers to model in fashion shows and act in films — but she’s decided to turn them down, citing two reasons.
The first is a recent knee surgery. The second is her desire not to take up space that could be given to others who’ve worked longer for those chances.
“I know, I recognise I definitely come from a place of privilege, given the environment I live in and who my family is,” she said. “I don’t feel I’m as deserving of those opportunities – or even as much praise as I’m getting.”
“While I recognise 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, who is training to be a mental health counselor, said her biggest goal is to represent those who aren’t often seen in the media: “I’d want to hopefully be an inspiration for at least one other person like me who is Black, who is queer, who’s not a size extra small.
"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.”