Airyn De Niro Grateful for Support After Coming Out as Transgender

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Airyn De Niro is feeling the love.

Following Robert De Niro and Toukie Smith’s daughter openly sharing her transition into a transgender woman, she conveyed heartfelt appreciation for the overwhelming positive responses she’s encountered.

On her Instagram Story, dated April 30th, she expressed gratitude to everyone for their kindness and support. She mentioned that she finds it unusual to have so much attention focused on her.

She humbly referred to herself as “essentially a woman using a phone,” and acknowledged the challenge of managing all the heartening messages she’s received, yet expressed immense joy in shining light on the importance of representation.

In her interview with Them on April 29, Airyn expressed a hope that she could inspire at least one other person who identifies as Black, queer, and is not petite. She also desires to see more trans women and more Black women represented in the media, who may have larger bodies or do not conform to the standard of being extremely thin.

Growing up, Airyn found it challenging as she grappled with understanding and accepting her racial background, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

She often remembered being told that she was either excessively something or insufficiently something during her upbringing: Too large instead of slim, and not slim enough. Not quite Black or white, but somewhere in between. Too feminine rather than masculine, and not sufficiently masculine. It was never simply, ‘You’re perfect just the way you are.’

Yet, Airyn found inspiration from role models such as Laverne Cox and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, which motivated her to progress further on her path, including starting hormone therapy in November.

She noted that transgender women who are truthful and transparent, particularly on platforms such as social media where they showcase their achievements, can inspire others. This resonated with her, leading her to think, ‘Perhaps there’s still a chance for me.’

Airyn, who has a twin brother Julian De Niro, hopes to be that for someone else in the future.

She also mentioned, “I hope others understand I am putting forth my utmost effort to recover from a childhood without self-confidence, and simultaneously, striving to help others develop positive self-perceptions as well.

After all, it was her own journey that brought confidence in all aspects of her identity. 

She mentioned that a significant aspect of her transformation is the impact Black women have had on her. By embracing this new identity and feeling even prouder about her African-American heritage, she somehow feels a deeper connection with them.

To delve deeper into the extensive family background of Airyn, along with other key figures from the movie ‘Taxi Driver’, continue below.

As a devoted admirer, I first crossed paths with my first wife, Diahnne Abbott, during the filming of Robert Scorsese’s masterpiece, “Taxi Driver.” In this groundbreaking 1976 film, she played a minor role as the ticket seller at the adult theater that Travis Bickle frequented.

They tied the knot April 28, 1976.

Apart from their appearance in separate films, this duo was also seen collaborating in Martin Scorsese’s 1977 film, the emotionally charged romance drama titled “New York, New York,” as well as his 1982 satirical piece, “The King of Comedy.

The actor adopted Diahnne’s daughter Drena, born Sept. 3, 1971, when they got married.

Raphael, the son of De Niro and Abbott, was born on November 9, 1976. At around age 10, Raphael remembered the family relocating from Los Angeles (where his father was born) to New York (a city closely linked with his dad). He shared with The Real Deal that this move represented a significant “cultural shift” for him.

Raphael’s parents divorced in 1988.

Born as Drena, whose initial Instagram post showcases a monochrome image of her dining out with her parents and the then-couple Jack Nicholson and Anjelica Huston (she humorously questioned “at this point all I wonder is WTF was I doing there??”), has continued her career in the entertainment industry, working both as an actor and a producer.

As a child, her upbringing deviated significantly from the norm, she shared with Everything Zoomer. Yet, it was filled with warmth, laughter, and a fair share of chaos. She characterized her father as an individual who was not quick to judge, possessing an open-minded approach, always embracing the unique paths people choose for themselves.

Raphael ventured into the real estate business, as it’s been a tradition in his family. According to his website, he heads The De Niro Team at Douglas Elliman in Manhattan, and he’s also a partner at the Greenwich Hotel located in TriBeCa.

46-years-old individual has three children with former spouse, Claudine de Matos, and has been in marriage with stylist Hannah Carnes since March 2020.

In an interview with The Real Deal, Raphael stated that being recognized solely by his surname made him a target for gossip magazines. He simply tries to maintain a low profile and protect his personal life from public scrutiny.

On July 2, 2023, Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, the son of Drena and the late Carlos Rodriguez (an artist), tragically passed away at the age of 19, suspected to be from an overdose.

Two weeks following the incident, a 20-year-old female suspect was apprehended for allegations related to distributing illegal drugs that led to Leandro’s demise. His mother swiftly linked his death to pills tainted with fentanyl.

On August 11, 2023 (what would have been her son’s 20th birthday), Drena posted on Instagram: “I’m grateful for the most joyful and profound 20 years of my life, little angel. I wish you tranquility today, and may your spirit be filled with happiness always.

Robert De Niro expressed his shock over his grandson’s passing to People magazine, saying, “I found myself contemplating all the things we could have shared together. I can’t help but wonder if there was something more I could have done for him. I don’t know if it would have changed anything, but those thoughts keep lingering in my mind. It shouldn’t have happened.

De Niro and model-actress Toukie Smith are parents to twins Julian and Airyn, born Oct. 20, 1995. 

In April 2025, Airyn publicly identified as a transgender woman. She shared with Them Magazine that this transition additionally strengthened her connection to her ethnicity.

She expressed that a significant aspect of her transformation stems from the impact Black women have had on her. Additionally, embracing her new identity and feeling more connected to her African heritage brings her closer to these women.

As for who the actress aspires to be like? Her mother, of course.

Whenever we get together for a family event on my father’s side, everyone always speaks warmly about my mother, praising her charm and reminiscing about how much they cherished her. She confided that she aspires to emulate this: “I want to be remembered just like that… I long to be remembered in the same way people remember her.

 

Although Airyn maintains a secluded existence, Julian, on the other hand, is a stage actor who recently graced Broadway in the Tony-nominated play “The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window.” In 2022, he portrayed a younger version of Barack Obama in the Showtime miniseries titled “The First Lady.

In my personal experience, when guiding young ones about their aspirations, I emphasize, ‘Go ahead and dream big, whether that’s acting or any other pursuit; what truly matters is your happiness. However, never undervalue yourself.’ These are the core messages I believe in – strive a bit further, chase after what you genuinely desire, yet don’t let fear hold you back.

Robert De Niro is the father of Elliot, who was born on March 18, 1998, and Helen Grace, who was born to a surrogate mother on December 23, 2011. These children were born to him by his second wife, Grace Hightower.

On June 17, 1997, he wedded the esteemed actress. However, De Niro sought a divorce just two years into their marriage. Yet, before the dissolution was finalized, they made up and reaffirmed their commitment to each other in 2004 by renewing their vows.

They again began divorce proceedings in 2018.

Speaking about the film “Silver Linings Playbook,” where he portrayed a father of an adult son with bipolar disorder, De Niro once revealed his personal connection to the role. He openly discussed having a child with special needs during an interview with Katie Couric in 2013, stating, “I don’t usually get emotional, but I understand exactly what my character experiences.” In 2016, he confirmed that his son Elliott has autism.

De Niro’s seventh child was born April 6, 2023.

On her show on May 11, CBS Mornings anchor Gayle King was privileged to unveil the name. She exclaimed, “How adorable is this baby!” referring to then one-month-old Gia. “Robert De Niro and his partner, Tiffany Chen, are absolutely thrilled about this precious girl.

The two-time Academy Award winner, it should be noted, isn’t directly involved in the main tasks, but he couldn’t help but express his joy over having a baby at home with great enthusiasm.

He shared with AARP that whenever he focuses on her, all his concerns and preoccupations vanish, leaving him in a state of awe, as if it’s magical.

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2025-04-30 18:52