Robert De Niro’s daughter Airyn is opening up about the unwavering support she’s received from her father since coming out with her gender orientation.
In a new follow-up interview with Them, the 30-year-old shared that his encouragement has remained steady.
“The support has still been nonstop from him, and I’m so grateful,” she said.
Airyn recalled how her dad expressed joy that she’s surrounded by love, especially from her boyfriend, whom he has met.
She shared that De Niro told her, “You have somebody who loves you for you, and you don’t need to change yourself for anybody.”
She also mentioned a recent therapy session they attended together, where the Oscar-winning actor reassured her about embracing her identity.
“He said, ‘There’s no other thing to do than accept your kid for who they are and where they decide to go in life,’” she explained. “He’s very good at being a dad and, not just that, [but also] accepting people from all walks of life.”
To Airyn, his attitude feels natural and grounded. At his “ripe old age,” she said, he isn’t trying to set a high bar, he’s simply doing what should be the standard for any parent.
Airyn is the daughter of De Niro and actress Toukie Smith, and she has a twin brother, Julian. The actor has seven children in total, the youngest being Gia, born in April 2023 with girlfriend Tiffany Chen.
Back in June, De Niro shared a statement with PEOPLE affirming his love for Airyn.
He said he supported her before her transition, “and now I love and support Airyn as my daughter.” He added, “I don’t know what the big deal is… I love all my children.”
Airyn also opened up about leaning into her Goth side just in time for Halloween. She described it as “very healing” to explore new styles, communities and experiences now that she feels more at home in her body.
Along with that, she reflected on her connection to singing, noting that only a few people have heard her, including her mom, her dad, her sister and Ariana Grande.
After reconnecting with Grande, who is currently filming Focker-in-Law with De Niro and Ben Stiller, Airyn sent her a clip of herself singing.
Grande responded warmly, and Airyn said, “She really gave me a confidence boost.”
De Niro returns to the Meet the Parents franchise in Focker-in-Law, slated for release Nov. 25, 2026.
