Legendary actor Robert De Niro has shared a powerful message for his daughter after she came out as transgender this week.
In a recent interview with LGBTQ+ publication Them, Airyn De Niro spoke about 'stepping into this new identity'.
The 29-year-old aspiring model and voice actor is currently training to become a mental health counsellor, and is the daughter of De Niro and his ex-partner Toukie Smith.
Her coming out as trans comes at a dangerous time in the US, with Donald Trump's government of the view that a person's gender is 'not changeable', and Euphoria's Hunter Schafer left disappointed after her new passport suggested that she was male.
Advert
It's not just the US making these changes however, as the UK Supreme Court recently ruled that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex.
However, that has not stopped Airyn from embracing her true self, and it seems clear that she has the support and love of her father.
He told Variety in a statement: "I love and support Airyn as my daughter.
"I don't know what the big deal is. I love all my children."
De Niro has had to deal with plenty of challenges in his career, including playing two characters opposite each other in a scene, but his daughter's transition is clearly something he has no issue with.
Airyn spoke candidly about her struggles growing up but now hopes that coming out can be the start of a new chapter for her.
She said: "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.’”
“Trans women being honest and open, especially [in] public spaces like social media and getting to see them in their success,” she said. “I’m like, ‘You know what? Maybe it’s not too late for me.'”
After the interview went live, she took to Instagram to express her gratitude for the support of her fans.
“Thank you to everyone who’s been so sweet and supportive! I’m not used to all these eyes on me,” she wrote. “Also for the folks asking if I have representation or signed to anyone, I am literally just a girl with a phone, so sorry if I miss your messages!”
Topics: Robert De Niro, Celebrity News, Parenting
James Moorhouse