Robert De Niro’s trans daughter sends him message after actor responded to her coming out

Airyn De Niro recently shared a deeply personal message after publicly coming out as a transgender woman. She wanted to thank her father, actor Robert De Niro, as well as her family, friends, and even strangers who offered support and kindness after her announcement.

Earlier this week, Airyn, who is 29 years old, opened up in an interview with Them magazine. She explained that she began hormone therapy in November 2024 and is now embracing her identity fully. Her coming out happened during a tough time for many in the LGBTQ+ community, especially in the U.S., where some political views still deny that a person’s gender can change. Despite that, Airyn chose to speak her truth and was met with love.

After her story was published, her father responded publicly, saying he loved and supported her when she was known as Aaron, and he continues to love and support her now as Airyn. He made it clear that for him, it’s simple—he loves all his children.

In a video she posted on Instagram, Airyn thanked everyone who reached out to her. She mentioned old classmates, friends, family, and even strangers who showed her kindness. She also thanked the journalist who interviewed her and praised actress Laverne Cox for being such an inspiration.

Airyn gave special thanks to her parents, saying she couldn’t have asked for better support. She said they’ve always accepted her and been there when she needed them.

She then shared that she had to turn down some offers she received—like movie roles and fashion show invites—because of two main reasons. One was that she had knee surgery recently, and the other was that she feels others in the community deserve these chances more than she does. She explained that she’s aware of her privilege because of her family background and the support she has, which many others don’t.

Airyn said she doesn’t think she deserves all the praise she’s getting and hopes the spotlight can shine on people who’ve worked hard in the industry and haven’t had the same opportunities.

Toward the end of her message, Airyn asked everyone—whether they support her or not—to try and be more understanding of others. She urged people to approach those with different views with kindness and curiosity instead of judgment.

She ended by saying that the world needs more empathy and that it’s important we treat each other with more care. In her interview, she also mentioned that seeing other people living honestly and openly helped her realize it wasn’t too late for her to do the same.

Airyn concluded with a powerful thought: she said there’s a big difference between being seen and just being visible—and she’s only now starting to truly feel seen.