Robert De Niro’s daughter, Airyn De Niro, has publicly come out as transgender in her first in-depth interview since she started hormone replacement therapy (HRT) last November. Airyn, 29, who shares a twin brother Julian with the actor and his former partner, model Toukie Smith, opened up about her transition in a conversation with Them magazine.
Reflecting on her decision to pursue HRT, Airyn credited the visibility of trans women being ‘honest and open’ online as a catalyst for realising that embracing her identity was still possible. HRT, a medical process involving hormone administration to help align one’s physical attributes with their gender identity, is often a vital component of many trans people’s journeys.
‘There’s a difference between being visible and being seen,’ Airyn explained to Them. ‘I don’t think I’ve been seen yet.’
Having come out as gay during her high school years, Airyn shared experiences of feeling perpetually ‘too much of something or not enough of something’ growing up—whether it was about her body, her racial identity, or her gender expression. ‘Too big, not skinny enough. Not Black enough, not white enough. Too feminine, not masculine enough,’ she said. ‘It was never just, “You’re just right, just the way you are”.’
Airyn also talked about a growing pride in her Blackness that connects her more deeply with the strong Black women in her life as she steps into her evolving identity.
Family dynamics also featured in her reflections, particularly how her father’s family often discusses how happy Robert De Niro was with Airyn’s mother. Airyn expressed a wish to be seen with a similar warmth and affection, aspiring to embody a femininity that is ‘inviting and warm and welcoming’, free from masks and pretense.
Despite her famous lineage, Airyn does not view herself as a ‘nepo baby.’ She revealed having faced challenges in her pursuit of an acting career, including two unsuccessful auditions for the video game League of Legends. She acknowledged her father’s encouragement to carve out her own path and earn success independently. ‘I wasn’t brought up having a side part in one of dad’s movies or going to business meetings or attending premieres,’ she said. ‘My dad was very big on us finding our own sort of path. I would want [success] to happen on my own merit.’
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://people.com/parents/all-about-robert-de-niro-kids/ – This article provides information about Robert De Niro’s children, including his twin sons Julian and Aaron, who are 28 years old and share a mother with Airyn De Niro.
- https://people.com/parents/robert-de-niro-shares-first-photo-reveals-name-baby-no-7/ – This article discusses Robert De Niro’s seventh child, Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro, born on April 6, 2023, with his girlfriend Tiffany Chen.
- https://people.com/robert-de-niro-compares-raising-daughter-gia-to-older-kids-8658631 – This article features Robert De Niro discussing his experience raising his youngest daughter, Gia, and comparing it to raising his older children.
- https://people.com/see-robert-de-niro-lookalike-daughter-gia-exclusive-8559701 – This article includes Robert De Niro sharing his thoughts on his youngest daughter, Gia, and how she resembles him as a child.
- https://people.com/robert-de-niro-says-6-older-kids-havent-meet-baby-sibling-yet-exclusive-7548858 – This article reports that Robert De Niro’s six older children have not yet met his youngest daughter, Gia, but plans are in place for them to do so.
- https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/1769123/robert-de-niro-baby-seven-daughter-name-mother – This article discusses Robert De Niro’s announcement of his seventh child, Gia Virginia Chen-De Niro, and provides details about her birth and the mother’s identity.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The content appears fresh and recent, focusing on Airyn De Niro’s current journey and interview with Them magazine.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
Direct quotes are included from Airyn De Niro, but no verification of their earliest publication date was found online. The quotes seem original to this context.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Independent, a well-known and reputable publication.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims are plausible, involving personal experiences and an interview with Them magazine, which aligns with realistic scenarios of coming out and transitioning.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is well-supported by a reputable source, contains plausible personal experiences, and includes quotes from Airyn De Niro without evidence of being previously published elsewhere.
