Robert De Niro’s son, Airyn (formerly Aaron), says he identifies as a transgender woman in a newly published interview with the “LGBTQ+”-themed outlet Them.
The 29-year-old is one of De Niro’s seven children with four different women.
Airyn also has a twin brother, Julian. Their mother is actress Toukie Smith.
“There’s a difference between being visible and being seen,” Airyn, who is biracial, told the outlet. “I’ve been visible. I don’t think I’ve been seen yet.”
Airyn also discussed recent media coverage, claiming it had portrayed him incorrectly. He especially took issue with being called a “nepo baby” in some headlines. “They just sort of reminded me that people really don’t know anything about me.”
“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… I would want [success] to happen on my own merit,” Airyn said.
“Obviously, no parent is perfect, but I am grateful that both my parents agreed to keep me out of the limelight,” he said. “They have told me they wanted me to have as much of a normal childhood as possible.”
Airyn also talked about being a “late bloomer.”
“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,” he said. “It was never just, ‘You’re just right, just the way you are.’”
Airyn said it was “the influence black women have had on me” that led him to start hormone therapy last November. The article’s author noted that the “turning point” in Airyn’s transition occurred after seeing the live-action remake of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” and deciding to get braids.
“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,” Airyn told the outlet. “I’d want to see more trans women, more black women who are maybe bigger-bodied or don’t fit the mold of super thin or heroin chic.”
Social media comments focused on how many celebrity children identify as transgender and noted how many didn’t have fathers in the home.
“Desperately seeking attention since he never received any from his dad. Just sad,” one commenter wrote.
Another wondered, “What are celebrities doing to their children?”
“It’s almost like these celebrities are training their kids to be trans,” another commenter observed.
