Robert De Niro’s Daughter Airyn Shares How She Was Outed as Transgender
Robert De Niro’s daughter, Airyn De Niro, has come out as transgender. The 29-year-old, who is the daughter of actress Toukie Smith and De Niro, shared her journey of self-discovery and her hopes for the future.
Airyn De Niro comes out as transgender in new interview
In a recent interview with Them, Airyn discussed stepping into her new identity after years of living away from the Hollywood spotlight. As one of Robert De Niro’s seven children, she has largely stayed out of the public eye until now. “There’s a difference between being visible and being seen. I’ve been visible. I don’t think I’ve been seen yet.”
Airyn explained that recent media coverage misrepresented her, reinforcing her decision to share her truth on her own terms. She addressed articles that reported on her “new look.” She said, “Not only did they get information wrong about me… They just sort of reminded me that people really don’t know anything about me.”
After being labeled as a “nepo baby,” Airyn clarified that her upbringing was far from privileged in the traditional Hollywood sense.
“I wasn’t brought up having a side part in one of dad’s movies or going to business meetings or attending premieres,” she said. “My dad was very big on us finding our own path. I would want [success] to happen on my own merit.” She credits both her parents for shielding her from the limelight.
“Obviously, no parent is perfect. But I am grateful that both my parents agreed to keep me out of the limelight,” she said. “They have told me they wanted me to have as much of a normal childhood as possible.”
Airyn reflected on the pressures of beauty standards and racial identity. She further recalled how she often felt like she didn’t fit in. Now pursuing acting and modeling, she hopes to become a mental health counselor to support marginalized communities.
