Legendary Hollywood actor Robert De Niro has issued a statement of support for his daughter Airyn De Niro, who spoke publicly about her transition for the first time in an interview with Them.
In comments sent to multiple entertainment and celebrity outlets, including People magazine, the Goodfellas star expressed his ongoing support for Airyn after coming out, saying, “I love and support Airyn as my daughter. I don’t know what the big deal is… I love all my children.”
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In an exclusive interview with Them contributor Ava Pauline Emilione published Wednesday, Airyn spoke candidly about surviving tabloid scrutiny after being photographed by paparazzi in March — and about her decision to tell her story on her own terms for the first time.
“There’s a difference between being visible and being seen,” Airyn, an aspiring model and actress, told Them. “I’ve been visible. I don’t think I’ve been seen yet.”
Of her relationship with her famous father, Airyn said, “Obviously no parent is perfect, but I am grateful that both my parents agreed to keep me out of the limelight. They wanted it very private. They have told me they wanted me to have as much of a normal childhood as possible.”
Airyn is the child of Robert De Niro and actress Toukie Smith, whom Airyn cites as an exemplar for her own vision of womanhood: “The way [my mom] would conduct or hold herself, the way that I saw her interact with others in public when I was younger, I see myself emulating that in some way,” Airyn told Them.
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