Robert De Niro is standing proudly beside his daughter Ayrin as she embraces her identity as a transgender woman.
In a heartfelt statement to TMZ, the actor shared his unwavering love and support:
“I loved and supported Aaron as my son, and now I love and support Ayrin as my daughter. I don’t know what the problem is — I love all my children.”
The Oscar-winning star is a father to seven children. Ayrin, who was born as Aaron and has a twin brother named Julian, is the daughter of De Niro and actress Toukie Smith. She began hormone therapy in November and has been navigating this transformative chapter in her life with the full backing of her famous father.
Ayrin De Niro Speaks Out About Identity, Bullying, and Acceptance
In deeply personal interviews, Ayrin has opened up about the struggles she’s faced throughout her life — from public scrutiny to bullying and feelings of invisibility.
“I was told I was too big, not thin enough, not Black enough, not white enough, too feminine, not masculine enough,” she shared.
Despite being in the public eye as the daughter of a global film icon, Ayrin has revealed how isolating her experience has been.
“There is a difference between being visible and being seen,” she said. “I have been visible, but I think no one has seen me yet. They were cruel and I didn’t even fit the beauty standard.”
Speaking to Them, Ayrin also reflected on the importance of representation and seeing other trans women thrive:
“People don’t really know anything about me. I feel like they still don’t know anything. But when I see trans women being honest and open, especially in public spaces like social media, and I see them being successful, I think maybe it’s not too late for me.”
