Robert De Niro’s Daughter Comes Out as Trans

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Robert De Niro’s fatherly love is unconditional.

Following his daughter, who goes by Airyn De Niro, openly identifying as a transgender woman, the esteemed actor expressed his unwavering backing and pride for her personal journey.

He declared in a statement to Deadline on April 30th, ‘I have always cherished and backed Aaron, and now I am just as affectionately supporting Airyn.’

Robert, father of Airyn and her twin brother Julian De Niro (previously in a relationship with Toukie Smith), went on to say, ” frankly, I can’t understand all this fuss… I cherish each and every one of my kids.

Airyn, aged 29, openly expressed her transgender identity, which led to questions about how her family would react. In an interview with Them published on April 29th, she confided, “I have some apprehension that they might still view me as the person I was before my transition.

However, Airyn, who started hormone treatment in November, acknowledged her parents for allowing her to have a typical childhood.

She added, “It’s clear that no parent is flawless, but I’m thankful that my parents chose to shield me from the public eye. They valued privacy and aimed for me to experience as much of a typical upbringing as they could.

As someone who discovered my authentic self a bit later in life, I find myself deeply inspired by remarkable figures like Laverne Cox and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez. Their courage and resilience have been instrumental in encouraging me to embrace my true identity and lead a life that truly reflects who I am.

She stated that when transgender women are truthful and transparent, particularly in public arenas such as social media, and one can observe their achievements, her response was, ‘Perhaps it’s not yet the end of the road for me.’

Following the discovery of her influence on Airyn’s path, Laverne, at 52 years old, offered touching reflections of her own.

In a recent Instagram video posted on April 30th, she expressed her heartfelt gratitude by saying, “It’s been shared with me that I’m among the women who’ve inspired you throughout your life. To know that I can serve as an inspiration for someone like you, Airyn, is truly humbling and a source of immense honor.” She further added, “Hearing this from you serves as a reminder that I am sufficient, I am valuable, and my efforts are worthy.

In a recent statement, the former star of “Orange Is the New Black” expressed her admiration, saying, “I want to commend you for acknowledging the inner radiance that defines you. It’s not just about physical appearance; I’m referring to the beauty that embodies being trans.

For a closer look at Robert De Niro’s family tree, keep reading.

Robert De Niro came across his first spouse, Diahnne Abbott, during the production of Martin Scorsese’s movie “Taxi Driver.” In this iconic 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.

Additionally, the pair featured side by side in Martin Scorsese’s 1977 film, the dramatic love story titled “New York, New York“, and his 1982 comedic critique “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. Later in life, Raphael remembered his family moving from Los Angeles (the city where his father was born) to New York (a city closely linked with his father), around the age of ten. He recounted to The Real Deal that this move represented a significant “culture shock” for him.

Raphael’s parents divorced in 1988.

Drena, who posted her first Instagram picture – a black-and-white photo of herself as a child dining out with her parents and the once-coupled Jack Nicholson and Anjelica Huston (she expressed curiosity about her own presence there, writing “at this point all I wonder is WTF was I doing there ???”), has continued to work in the entertainment industry as both an actor and a producer.

In her youth, she shared with Everything Zoomer that her family life deviated from the norm, yet it was filled with warmth, laughter, and a fair share of chaos. She characterized her father as an individual who was understanding, open-minded, and always supportive of others’ choices in life.

Raphael ventured into the real estate sector, following a family tradition. According to his website, he heads The De Niro Team at Douglas Elliman in Manhattan, and is also a partner in the Greenwich Hotel located in TriBeCa.

46-years-old individual has a family of three children with his former spouse, Claudine de Matos, and he has been in matrimony with stylist Hannah Carnes since March 2020.

In an interview with The Real Deal, Raphael stated that being recognized solely by his last name led to media speculation. He simply tries to maintain a low profile and protect his personal life from public scrutiny.

Leandro De Niro Rodriguez, the son of artist Carlos Rodriguez and Drena, tragically passed away on July 2, 2023 due to a suspected drug overdose. He was only 19 years old.

Approximately twenty years old, a female was detained about two weeks subsequent, facing federal accusations of distributing narcotics related to the demise of an individual named Leandro. The mother swiftly linked the death to tablets contaminated with fentanyl.

On August 11, 2023 (what would have been her son’s 20th birthday), Drena posted on Instagram: “Thank you for the happiest and most meaningful 20 years of my life, dear angel. I wish your soul finds tranquility today and may it be forever filled with joy.

As an ardent admirer, let me rephrase it in the first person: “Upon hearing about my grandson’s untimely demise, I was struck with a profound shock. I found myself pondering over all the moments we could have shared, the things I might have done differently. I can’t help but wonder if these changes would have altered his fate. These thoughts continuously haunt me. It shouldn’t have ended this way.

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. During an interview with Them Magazine, she shared that this experience also deepened her understanding and connection to her racial identity.

She stated that a significant aspect of her transformation stems from the impact Black women have exerted upon her. She explained that as she embrace this fresh identity and become more emboldened by my Black heritage, I somehow feel a stronger connection to them.

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

At our get-togethers on my father’s side, folks are always praising my mother for how much they adore her and how impactful she was. They often speak of the joy my dad found in her presence. Reflecting on this, I aspire to be like her… I long to be cherished in a similar way that people remember her.

 

Although Airyn keeps his life private, Julian, on the other hand, is an actor known for his recent Broadway performance in “The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window,” which was nominated for a Tony award. In 2022, he portrayed a young Barack Obama in the Showtime limited series titled “The First Lady.

To my children, I advise: ‘Feel free to pursue whatever dream captivates your heart, whether acting or something else. Just remember not to undervalue yourself.’ This, in essence, is the core of my advice – strive a bit harder and aim for what truly inspires you. 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, born to a surrogate mother on December 23, 2011. He has these two children with his second wife, Grace Hightower.

On June 17, 1997, he wed the renowned actress. However, De Niro sought a divorce less than two years into their union. Yet, prior to the formal separation, they reconciled and remarried each other in 2004.

They again began divorce proceedings in 2018.

Speaking about the movie “Silver Linings Playbook” where he portrayed a father of a son with bipolar disorder, De Niro once opened up to Katie Couric in 2013, admitting, “I don’t usually get emotional, but I understand what my character experiences.” Later on in 2016, he disclosed that his real-life son Elliott has autism.

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

On her show on May 11th, CBS Mornings anchor Gayle King had the pleasure of revealing the name. She gushed over the adorable one-month-old baby named Gia. Robert De Niro and his partner, Tiffany Chen, are absolutely thrilled about this new addition to their family.

The two-time Academy Award winner, who openly acknowledges not being involved in the main work, couldn’t help but express heartfelt joy over having a baby around.

He shared with AARP, “All my concerns and preoccupations simply vanish whenever I gaze upon her. It’s truly a marvelous feeling.

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2025-05-01 03:47