Robert De Niro’s son recently came out as transgender, identifying as a woman. His father offered to accompany him to a hormone appointment, demonstrating his support for the transition. “He even offered to help me with booking things when I was starting hormones,” the 29-year-old shared.
“When I first came out, I posted about it on Instagram and sent texts to my sister, Dorena, my twin brother, Julian, and our two cousins,” Aaron De Niro, now going by Aerin, noted in a video on social media.
“In the text, I said, ‘Hey, I’m going on estrogen, so don’t be surprised if you see me with breasts.’ I wanted them to know what was happening. They were really supportive,” Aerin explained, adding that he shared a screenshot of that text on his Instagram story.
“That’s when all my friends and family found out,” Aerin continued, sharing how his famous dad reacted. He recalled De Niro saying something like, “If you want to live as a woman, that’s perfectly fine.”
Aerin also mentioned, “He looks quite similar to the character from ‘Live Undrive,’” likely meaning there’s a notable resemblance.
“He emphasized the importance of looking after my health. I should consult someone knowledgeable,” Aerin recalled, noting how concerned his father is about their family’s well-being.
De Niro’s son mentioned a desire to publically identify as transgender. “Honestly, I felt some pressure to come out because photos were taken without my permission, which felt forced,” he admitted.
“I tend to keep things private,” Aerin explained, acknowledging the challenges of public scrutiny in a social media video. “Don’t call me ‘rebellious’ or ‘unrecognized,'” he added, referencing a specific article.
Aerin reflected on his delayed coming out, saying, “I’m kind of a late bloomer when it comes to transitions.” He noted that many online trans girls had already made significant changes, leaving him feeling a bit behind.
“It was really intimidating,” he expressed, thinking about his family’s acceptance and whether he’d feel comfortable presenting as his true self. “I pretty much keep that knowledge close to my heart,” the 29-year-old shared.
There has been a noticeable trend of celebrity children identifying with a gender different from their birth sex, which raises questions about the prevalence of such identities in the entertainment industry.
Recently, X-Men star Liev Schreiber shared a personal moment about changing his son’s pronouns, stating, “It didn’t feel like a big deal to me because Kai has always been such a woman.” He emphasized that it’s important for transgender individuals, especially youth, to express their identities openly.
While there’s a growing number of young people questioning their biological sex in light of transgender narratives and the notion of “non-binary” identities, many researchers suggest that social influences play a significant role in these young people’s experiences.
