Robert De Niro Says Love For His Daughter Airyn Hasn’t Changed: “I Don’t Know What The Big Deal Is”

Robert De Niro may be one of Hollywood’s toughest legends on screen, but when it comes to family, he’s all heart. The 81-year-old Oscar winner recently spoke out in support of his daughter Airyn, who came out as transgender this week.

“I loved and supported Aaron as my son, and now I love and support Airyn as my daughter,” Robert told PEOPLE. “I don’t know what the big deal is. I love all my children.”

Airyn, 29, shared her journey in a powerful interview with Them on Tuesday, April 29. With honesty and grace, she spoke about finally embracing her identity and how she’s learning to truly be seen — not just noticed. “There’s a difference between being visible and being seen,” she said. “I’ve been visible. I don’t think I’ve been seen yet.”

Growing up, Airyn struggled with body dysmorphia and feeling like she was never “just right.” “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,’” she recalled.

Last November, she made the decision to start hormone therapy and step fully into who she is. But Airyn’s journey is about more than personal healing; she wants to be a light for others too. “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, adding, “I’d want to see more trans women, more Black women who are bigger-bodied or don’t fit the mold of super thin or heroin chic.”

Airyn also shared her dreams of becoming a mental health counselor, especially focused on supporting queer people and people of color. She’s using her voice and her story to advocate for better mental health awareness and representation.

While some might assume her famous last name gave her a head start, Airyn is quick to clarify that she’s charting her own course. “My dad was very big on us finding our own sort of path,” she said, brushing aside the “nepo baby” label. “Obviously, no parent is perfect, but I’m 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.”

Robert shares Airyn and her twin brother Julian with actress Toukie Smith. His other children include Drena, 53, and Raphael, 48, with ex-wife Diahnne Abbott; Elliot, 27, and Helen Grace, 13, with ex-wife Grace Hightower; and his youngest, Gia, born in 2023 with girlfriend Tiffany Chen.