Robert De Niro shows support for daughter after she came out as trans: 'I love all my children'
Robert De Niro has nothing but love and support for his daughter Airyn after she recently came out as a trans woman in a magazine interview.
In a statement sent to Deadline, the veteran actor highlighted how his affection for his child didn't change after her transition, noting that he doesn't understand why it would be an issue.
"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. I love all my children," he said.
In an interview with online LGBTQ+ magazine Them, Airyn opened up about what it's like "stepping into this new identity."
"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 said.
When she came out as gay in high school, she recalled how she felt pressured into conforming to stereotypes and traditional beauty standards.
"[Gay men were] ruthless and mean. I didn’t even fit that beauty standard, which is thin, white, muscular, or just super fit, masculine. 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 said.
According to her, a big part of her transition was the influence of black women.
"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 shared.
With her father being an accomplished actor, Airyn wants success to "happen on my own merit." But she acknowledges that this would be a challenge as the entertainment industry "originally was so catered to white cis hetero men."
"People of color and queer people definitely need more mental health advocacy and support. So I’m hoping I’m able to do that," she said.
When asked what she wants people to see when they look at her, Airyn said, "I wish people saw someone who is trying their hardest to heal from growing up not feeling good about themselves. [And] in the process of that, trying to make other people feel good about themselves."
Airyn is Robert's child with Toukie Smith, along with her twin brother Julian. The actor is also the father of five other children: Drena and Raphael with his first wife Diahnne Abbott, Elliot and Helen Grace with his second wife Grace Hightower, and Gia with his girlfriend Tiffany Chen.
