Robert De Niro’s daughter has come out as a transgender woman in a new interview, which also hits back at accusations of her being a ‘nepo baby’.

Airyn De Niro was born in 1995 to the actor, through his relationship with model Toukie Smith, his partner from 1988 to 1996. Recently, Airyn was subject to tabloid articles featuring photographs of her with feminine hair and clothes, with headlines misgendering her and describing her as “Robert De Niro’s Nepo Baby” – a derogatory term for the children of famous people viewed to have gained opportunities because of their family.

Talking to outlet Them, Airyn De Niro addressed the articles and the ‘nepo baby’ label. “Not only did they get information wrong about me… They just sort of reminded me that people really don’t know anything about me” she said.

Having had an upbringing where she was kept out of the limelight, De Niro says she never took advantage of her father’s fame. “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”.

While she is working on her acting and modelling careers, she is also studying to become a mental health counsellor. “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,” she said of her childhood. “They have told me they wanted me to have as much of a normal childhood as possible.”

The Transgender community has faced a raft of oppression from both the US and UK governments in 2025. American President Donald Trump’s executive order defining gender as being assigned at birth has meant many Trans Americans have had rights such as gender markers on passports revoked, sparking anger from star Hunter Schafer and the entertainment world at large.

In April, the UK Supreme Court ruled that the definition of women does not include Transgender women in matters of single sex spaces and discrimination. The music world condemned the decision, while Bridgerton actor Nicola Coughlan raised over £90,000 for a Trans charity in response.

Despite the difficult times for the community, De Niro says that public-facing Transgender women inspired her to start her transition journey. “Trans women being honest and open, especially (in) public spaces like social media and getting to see them in their success… I’m like, you know what? Maybe it’s not too late for me,” she said. “Maybe I can start”.

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