Robert De Niro is pushing again in opposition to the “nepo child” concept that having a well-known guardian makes an appearing profession simple.
The 83-year-old actor helps his youngsters following him into leisure, however he says expertise alone will not be sufficient. The Oscar winner says his youngsters can really face extra stress due to his success.
Robert De Niro has seven youngsters he shares with completely different girls. A few of his youngsters have adopted his path into the leisure business whereas others have constructed careers elsewhere.
De Niro helps his youngsters pursuing appearing, however he is aware of firsthand that the business is troublesome. He stated alternatives have elevated now, not like when he was younger, but getting appearing jobs stays simply as difficult. The actor defined that youngsters of well-known performers can face added stress to show themselves.
Folks could watch them extra carefully and count on them to display that they’re critical concerning the craft. “In case you don’t appear to be you’re actually honest about it and busting your ass and dealing arduous, it’ll have a adverse influence,” De Niro stated. He added that real dedication can ultimately work of their favor.
De Niro at the moment stars alongside Adam Scott in Netflix’s “The Whisper Man.” Within the movie, Scott performs a person with a unconscious need to be like his estranged father, reflecting a dynamic each actors have skilled as their youngsters take into account appearing.
De Niro’s daughter Drena has greater than 45 appearing credit, together with “A Star Is Born” and “Pleasure.” His son Julian additionally acted in “In Doubtful Battle” and performed a younger Barack Obama in “The First Woman.” PEOPLE reported that De Niro’s most important recommendation stays easy: work arduous since you genuinely need the profession.
De Niro’s Daughter Rejected The ‘Nepo Child’ Label
Airyn has strongly rejected the concept that her father’s fame handed her an leisure profession. Her feedback got here after media shops reported on her transition with out contacting her first.
Airyn was photographed visiting her father at The Greenwich Lodge, after which experiences centered closely on her look and labeled her a “nepo child.”
The mannequin stated the protection bought details about her unsuitable and reminded her that individuals knew little or no about her. She defined that her dad and mom intentionally stored her childhood personal.
“I wasn’t introduced up having a facet half in one in all Dad’s films or going to enterprise conferences or attending premieres. My dad was very huge on us discovering our personal form of path. I’d need [success] to occur by myself benefit,” Airyn stated.
In 2025, she additionally revealed that she had spent seven years pursuing voice appearing and modeling. She stated she was usually rejected or ghosted by casting administrators and refused to depend on her father’s affect to get forward.
Airyn additionally stated being transgender made that course of harder. She described combating physique dysmorphia and conflicting expectations about her look, saying she was repeatedly made to really feel both “an excessive amount of” or “not sufficient.”
Airyn started hormone remedy in November 2024. She stated she hoped her expertise might encourage different Black, queer girls who don’t match slender magnificence requirements. The Blast reported that Airyn needed any success she achieved to be on her personal benefit.
Robert De Niro Helps His Daughter’s Transition
“The Wizard of Lies” actor didn’t deal with his daughter’s transition as one thing that modified his relationship together with her. He publicly made clear that his love and assist remained intact.
“I beloved and supported Aaron as my son, and now I like and assist Airyn as my daughter,” he stated. De Niro additionally questioned why her transition was being handled as such a significant difficulty, including that he loves all his youngsters.
Airyn stated she was grateful that each of her dad and mom had protected her from the highlight whereas she was rising up. She credited that privateness with giving her a childhood that was as regular as potential.
After her story grew to become public, Airyn thanked individuals who supported her. She admitted that she was not accustomed to having so many eyes on her and appreciated those that responded kindly.
She additionally addressed questions on whether or not she had expertise illustration. Airyn defined that she was basically dealing with issues herself, saying she was “actually only a woman with a cellphone” and may miss some messages. Her expertise additionally confirmed why she needed management over her personal story.
After being uncovered with out her consent, she selected to talk publicly on her personal phrases and clarify who she was past being the well-known actor’s daughter, as shared by The Blast.
The Oscar-Successful Actor’s Guilt As A Father
De Niro revealed the difficulties of being a father whereas sustaining such a demanding profession. As a father of seven, he acknowledged that he has some self-doubt in terms of being a gift father. He stated there isn’t a secret formulation for balancing work and household. The Hollywood actor stated it comes right down to managing the whole lot and accepting that some moments will inevitably be troublesome.
The actor shares seven youngsters with 4 completely different girls. He adopted Drena after marrying her mom, Diahnne Abbott, in 1976, and later welcomed Raphael with Abbott earlier than they divorced in 1988.
The Blast revealed that De Niro additionally shares twins Julian and Airyn with former accomplice Toukie Smith. He later welcomed Elliot and Helen with Grace Hightower, earlier than having his youngest little one, Gia, with Tiffany Chen in 2023.
De Niro has maintained that he has at all times beloved his youngsters. He has additionally stated that he doesn’t consider he put his profession above them, though his work stored him extraordinarily busy. “I used to be busy, in fact, however I at all times beloved my youngsters,” he revealed in a 2024 interview on “The Chris Wallace Present.”
His strategy to parenting has been to assist his youngsters whereas permitting them to search out their very own manner. That philosophy seems to increase past appearing, as his youngsters have pursued very completely different paths.
Robert De Niro’s Youngsters Have Constructed Lives Past His Shadow
Raphael’s profession presents one other instance of De Niro’s strategy to elevating youngsters underneath the load of a well-known surname. Regardless of having an A-list father, Raphael labored a number of jobs earlier than getting into the true property business. He labored folding rugs at a retailer, served as a manufacturing assistant for his father, and labored as a busboy at Nobu.
The expertise gave him duty and helped him keep away from changing into what his dad and mom feared can be a typical Hollywood little one. Raphael ultimately entered luxurious actual property and in addition grew to become his father’s enterprise accomplice—the 2 co-own The Greenwich Lodge in Tribeca with different companions.
Airyn’s expertise has adopted a distinct route. She has emphasised that she needs her profession and id to exist independently from her father’s fame, whereas nonetheless recognizing the assist he has given her.
She has described De Niro’s assist as “nonstop” and stated he has been accepting of her id and decisions. Airyn even stated he “ought to be the usual” in terms of fatherhood.
Robert De Niro being a well-known father doesn’t take away each impediment from his youngsters’s path.
