‘I don’t know what the big deal is’: Robert De Niro gives masterclass in parenting as daughter comes out as trans

Robert De Niro has a reputation as a class act. For decades, he’s used his movie star money to invest in his neighborhood, most notably founding the Tribeca Film Festival and supporting many other local businesses.

Now he’s proved he’s as admirable a parent as he is an actor. His 29-year-old daughter, Airyn De Niro, recently came out as trans, detailing her journey in an interview in Them. In reaction to this, De Niro was approached for comment, giving a quote that should be a blueprint for any parent with a trans child. Speaking to Variety, he said:

“I loved and supported Aaron as my son, and now I love and support Airyn as my daughter. I don’t know what the big deal is. I love all my children.”

Let’s contrast this with Elon Musk, who had to deal with the same situation when his daughter Vivian came out as trans. He explicitly says that from his perspective, he’d permanently lost a child, saying: “My son Xavier is dead, killed by the woke mind virus.” He went on to insist that she’s “not a girl” and that he’d been “tricked” into authorizing a medical transition for her at age 16.

Elon is now firmly estranged from Vivian, who has removed the “Musk” from her name, described him as “uncaring and narcissistic”, and revealed that as a father he’d harassed her whenever she acted in a way he considered feminine. Fortunately, Vivian is now living her best life far from her father, who now has no direct involvement with her.

Airyn, meanwhile, can rest easy knowing that, as should always be the case, a parent’s love is unconditional and can’t be snatched away on a whim. Taking to Instagram soon after the Them interview went live, she gushed about the positive response from family, the media, and the online community, saying: “Thank you to everyone who’s been so sweet and supportive! I’m not used to all these eyes on me.”

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A post shared by Airyn De Negro (@voiceofairyn)

Responses on X have been similarly positive, with users saying “this is what an actual parent is like”, “unconditional love is beautiful”, that De Niro is acting “like any good parent should” and, most accurately: “It is not strange or wrong to love your children whatever choice they make for themselves. Not sure why that gets some upset. Your kid is your kid. That’s life.”

So, if you’re placed in this situation in the future, be more like Robert De Niro and less like Elon Musk. Here’s wishing all the best for De Niro and his daughter going forward.