Latest news with #AirynDeNiro
Daily Mail
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Robert De Niro, 81, makes rare comments about trans daughter Airyn, 29, he had with ex Toukie Smith
Robert De Niro, 81, has made rare comments about his transgender daughter Airyn De Niro, 29. 'As long as they're not hurting themselves, doing anything that's destructive or anything like that, you have to support them. Period,' the Goodfellas star said. The New Yorker made his comments to Entertainment Tonight on Wednesday when at the world premiere of Billy Joel: And So It Goes presented on the opening night of the Tribeca Festival, at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. He had on a gray suit while his partner Tiffany Chen, 46, with whom he has a baby, modeled a black dress with a sheer corset top as she had on ombre yellow sunglasses. De Niro shares Airyn and her twin brother Julian, 29, with actress Toukie Smith, 72. The pair dated from 1988 to 1996. Airyn came out as a trans woman in an interview with Them published in April. In April De Niro said he 'loves and supports' Airyn, whom is one of his seven children. 'I loved and supported Aaron as my son, and now I love and support Airyn as my daughter,' the Oscar winner said in a statement. 'I don't know what the big deal is ... I love all my children,' the cinema icon added of Airyn, who began hormone therapy last year. His words of support come after Airyn did an extensive interview about her coming out journey to a prominent gay, lesbian and trans magazine. Airyn discussed how she hopes to serve as a role model for queer women of color creating their own definition of beauty. She sat down with Them contributor Ava Pauline Emilione at a cafe in Williamsburg, New York, to talk about everything from her favorite video game, to her new pink locks, to growing up as the daughter of one of the world's most famous actors. 'Not only did they get information wrong about me…They just sort of reminded me that people really don't know anything about me,' she began. She also talked about her parents. 'Obviously no parent is perfect, but I am grateful that both my parents agreed to keep me out of the limelight. They wanted it very private,' she said. 'They have told me they wanted me to have as much of a normal childhood as possible.' She then addressed deciding to begin hormone therapy / transition in November 2024. '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 noted. 'Maybe I can start.' And there was a reason she wanted to address her gender identity. 'There's a difference between being visible and being seen,' Airyn says. 'I've been visible. I don't think I've been seen yet.' On not feeling accepted by the queer community after coming out as a gay man in high school: '[Gay men were] ruthless and mean. I didn't even fit that beauty standard, which is thin, white, muscular, or just super fit, masculine,' Airyn says. '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."' Hormone therapy in November 2024 helped. 'I think a big part of [my transition] is also the influence Black women have had on me,' she says. 'I think stepping into this new identity, while also being more proud of my Blackness, makes me feel closer to them in some way.' On learning to embody joyful, defiant womanhood from her mother: 'Whenever I'm at a family gathering on my dad's side, people would always talk about how much they love my mom and how memorable she was and how happy my dad was when he was with her,' Airyn says. 'I want to be like that…I want to be remembered the way that people remember her.' 'The way [my mom] would conduct or hold herself, the way that I saw her interact with others in public when I was younger, I see myself emulating that in some way,' Airyn says. 'Whether it's just turning on the charm or not putting on a mask, but wanting to be feminine in a way that's inviting and warm and welcoming.' She does not like to be called a 'nepo baby.' 'I wasn't brought up having a side part in one of dad's movies or going to business meetings or attending premieres. My dad was very big on us finding our own sort of path,' Airyn says. 'I would want [success] to happen on my own merit.' 'I had two auditions for this video game, League of Legends,' she shared. 'It's one of the biggest video games I play all the time with friends. I was like, "Oh my God. That'd be so cool. It would be a make-it-or-break-it moment for me." Obviously it didn't happen. I was like, "What's the point?' It's the really big auditions that you're like, "F**k, this could have been life-changing, but it just I wasn't the right fit." And sometimes it's hard to not internalize that.' And she hopes to be a superstar. 'I want queer people of color and bigger-bodied people to have an Alex Consani. I want queer people of color and bigger-bodied people to have a Hunter Schafer,' she shared. 'A part of me has always wanted to model and sort of follow my mom's footsteps. Honestly, if I could be on the cover of Vogue with her or recreating one of her pictures, that would be a dream come true.' She also addressed mental health. '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 stated, adding, 'The field originally was so catered to white cis hetero men — what they deem as wrong or right or mentally ill or whatever, that is from their lens.' And she wants people to understand her pain of growing up. 'I wish people saw someone who is trying their hardest to heal from growing up not feeling good about themselves,' she said. '[And] in the process of that, trying to make other people feel good about themselves.' Smith and De Niro conceived their twins by in vitro fertilization and they were delivered via surrogate. The former couple began dating after his divorce from Diahnne Abbott. They were together for approximately eight years. While appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2020, the Hollywood legend spoke candidly about raising his biracial children. 'My children are all half black and I don't have, even me, I take certain things for granted,' De Niro admitted. He continued: 'When people say that they tell their kids, "Keep your hands [out] when you're stopped by any cops, keep your hands on the steering wheel, don't make a sudden move, don't put your hands below, don't do this," you understand that.' 'That's scary. That has to change,' he stated, referencing the conversation around referring to police brutality following George Floyd's death. 'Anybody who hurts another person for no reason other than self-defense or the defense of other people around shouldn't be doing that job.' That same year, De Niro reflected on whether his kids feel pressured to follow in his footsteps. 'For my kids, I tell them, "If you want to be an actor or you want to do this or that, that's fine as long as you're happy,"' he told People. 'Just don't sell yourself short. That's the most I would say — push yourself a little more and reach for what you really think it is you want to do. Don't be afraid.' He continued: 'It's important for them to find their own lane.' De Niro is also the father of daughter Drena, 53, and son Raphael, 48, whom he shares with his ex-wife, Diahnne. The actor is also father to son Elliot, 27, and daughter Helen Grace, 13, with ex-wife, Grace Hightower.
Newsweek
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Airyn De Niro Praises 'Support System' As Father Robert Pays Tribute
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Airyn De Niro, the daughter of Robert De Niro, has recently came out as transgender in her first public interview. Speaking to Newsweek about the online response, she praised her support system. "I'm so appreciative for them," she said, shortly after her father, Robert De Niro paid tribute to his daughter, telling TMZ: "I love and support Airyn." The Context President Donald Trump has taken multiple steps to unravel protections for transgender people. After his inauguration on January 20, Trump issued an executive order stating that it is "the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female." He has also targeted gender-affirming care of transgender youths, banned trans people from serving in the military and excluded trans women from competing in female sports. What To Know Airyn De Niro, 29, told Newsweek in an email: "Since the online response I've been feeling very overwhelmed with all the attention." She then added that she is "trying [her] best to navigate it." L: Airyn De Niro on Instagram, Airyn De Niro came out as transgender in a May 30 interview with Them, R: Robert De Niro attends the 2025 Exploring The Arts Family Dinner at The Angel... L: Airyn De Niro on Instagram, Airyn De Niro came out as transgender in a May 30 interview with Them, R: Robert De Niro attends the 2025 Exploring The Arts Family Dinner at The Angel Orensanz Foundation on April 10, 2025 in New York City. More Airyn De Niro/Instagram/"Having a support system makes it easier," adding, "I'm so appreciative for them." Her father, Robert De Niro shared a statement with TMZ following Airyn De Niro's interview with online magazine Them. "I love and support Airyn as my daughter," the Oscar-winning actor said, adding that he doesn't know "what the big deal is." Speaking about what inspired her to do her first public interview, Airyn De Niro told Newsweek that she was inspired by the "encouragement of my friends," ad well as "the women I look up to." Airyn De Niro, whose mother is the actress Toukie Smith, largely grew up out of the spotlight. In her interview with Them, she said that she has hopes to pursue a career in modeling and acting and has also trained as a mental health counselor. ""People of color and queer people definitely need more mental health advocacy and support," she told the publication. "I'm hoping I'm able to do that." What People Are Saying Airyn De Niro, in an email shared with Newsweek: "What inspired me was the encouragement of my friends and the women I look up to in the media so I can share my identity in my way." Robert De Niro, in a statement to TMZ: ""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."
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Robert De Niro's daughter Airyn De Niro comes out as trans
Robert De Niro's daughter Airyn De Niro has come out as transgender. The aspiring actress and model came out in a new interview with Them magazine, published April 29, and discussed life as one of the renowned Hollywood actor's seven kids. "There's a difference between being visible and being seen," Airyn De Niro, 29, told the LGBTQ outlet. "I've been visible. I don't think I've been seen yet." Last month, tabloids including the Daily Mail wrote about Airyn's transition after she was spotted in New York City. The outlet called her "Robert De Niro's nepo baby son" – a term describing the children of stars who benefit from their parents' fame – despite her largely being out of the spotlight. And none of the outlets, she said, reached out to her before publishing their articles. Robert De Niro says fatherhood 'feels great,' gets emotional over his baby daughter "Not only did they get information wrong about me… They just sort of reminded me that people really don't know anything about me," she said. De Niro shares twins Airyn De Niro and Julian De Niro with model Toukie Smith. The pair dated from 1988 to 1996. Airyn De Niro told the outlet she has been femme-presenting – or outwardly expressing a feminine gender identity through clothing, hairstyles and/or behaviors – since middle school, but decided to begin hormone therapy in November because she wanted to maintain her femininity as she got older, calling herself a "late bloomer." Though Airyn De Niro doesn't address how her family has reacted to her transition, she expressed anxiety over it. "I think part of me is concerned that (my family) will maybe still think of me as the person I was before the transition," she told Them. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Them (@them) She is studying to become a mental health counselor, and has also spent the last several years pursuing a modeling and acting career, she told the outlet. She points out that she hasn't leaned on her father's connections for opportunities, including auditions for roles in the video game "League of Legends" and as Jules in "Euphoria," where she was rejected for actress Hunter Schafer. "I wasn't brought up having a side part in one of dad's movies or going to business meetings or attending premieres. My dad was very big on us finding our own sort of path," Airyn De Niro said. "I would want (success) to happen on my own merit." Pedro Pascal slams J.K. Rowling as 'heinous loser' over anti-trans views: 'Disgusting' Now starting to emerge in the public eye, she wants people to see her as "someone who is trying their hardest to heal from growing up not feeling good about themselves." "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," she said. "(I want to) make other people feel good about themselves." Robert De Niro shares son Raphael and adopted daughter Drena with actress Diahnne Abbott; twins Airyn and Julian with model Toukie Smith; son Elliot and daughter Helen with actress Grace Hightower; and daughter Gia with Tiffany Chen. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Robert De Niro's daughter Airyn De Niro comes out as transgender
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Robert De Niro's daughter Airyn De Niro introduces herself as a Trans Woman: 'I was always told I was…'
's 29-year-old daughter, Airyn De Niro comes out as a trans woman , and shares the challeges and feelings of anixety during the vulnerable period of transition. In the hope of being an inspiration, she shared her story - with or without Holywood's approval - of being outside the conventional mold. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Airyn writes her story In an interview with Them Magazine, Airyn shared, '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,' while talking about her journey. Airyn De Niro's inspiration To be yourself, it's an onerous task. Airyn's inspiration roots from her mom, who entered the room with grace, laughter, and charisma. 'The way [my mom] would conduct or hold herself, the way that I saw her interact with others in public when I was younger, I see myself emulating that in some way,' she said. 'Whether it's just turning on the charm or not putting on a mask, but wanting to be feminine in a way that's inviting and warm and welcoming,' De Niro added. Additionally, she dedicates black women such as , Halle Bailey, Marsha P. Johnson, KeKe Palmer, Kat Graham, and more, who inspired her to embrace black femininity and extinguish the limiting barriers of what soothes as 'desirable.' '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 said. The self-proclaimed late-bloomer, Airyn, started her transition in November 2024 in the desire to maintain her femininity as she got older. After watching a successful trans woman opening up, she dared to take the journey herself. Airyn De Niro was always told... Embracing being a bigger-bodied woman, she also revealed that there has been a task to make a name in the entertainment industry on her terms as. 'I was always told I was too much of something or not enough of something growing up: Too big, not skinny enough. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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 stated. However, her father, Robert De Niro heartwarmingly stated that he previously supported his son Aaron, and now supports his daughter, Airyn, in an interview with Variety.
India.com
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Robert De Niro: Airyn Is Now Like A Daughter to Me, And I Fully Support Her
Hollywood star Robert De Niro said that he loved and supported Aaron as his son, and now he 'loves and supports' daughter Airyn, who has come out as transgender. '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,' Robert De Niro told in a statement. He added: 'I love all my children.' Airyn De Niro discussed 'stepping into this new identity', during a conversation with the publication Them. She also talked about growing up as one of seven children in the De Niro household. 'There's a difference between being visible and being seen,' Airyn De Niro said. 'I've been visible. I don't think I've been seen yet.' She went on to say that 'no parent is perfect, but I am grateful that both my parents agreed to keep me out of the limelight. They have told me they wanted me to have as much of a normal childhood as possible.' In the same interview, Airyn De Niro discussed her inspirations for going public with her transition. Among them was actress Laverne Cox. She went on to say that 'no parent is perfect, but I am grateful that both my parents agreed to keep me out of the limelight. They have told me they wanted me to have as much of a normal childhood as possible.' Airyn De Niro also talked about her inspirations for going public with her transition. Among them was actress Laverne Cox. Robert De Niro has been feted with various accolades, including two Academy Awards and a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for eight BAFTA Awards and four Emmy Awards. He was honored with the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2003, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2009, the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2011, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2019, and the Honorary Palme d'Or in 2025.
