Aaron Kendrick De Niro, son of film icon Robert De Niro, turned heads in New York City with a dramatically new look featuring pink hair and heeled boots.
In a rare public appearance, Aaron showcased his transformation, highlighting his fashion sense, the Daily Mail reported.
The sighting occurred on a recent Tuesday when Aaron was accompanied by his father, Robert De Niro. The young De Niro's new aesthetic was a departure from his previous public images, capturing the attention of onlookers and the media alike. Sporting long pink dreadlocks, a black beanie, and audacious heeled combat boots, Aaron's style spoke volumes about his evolution.
Aaron's decision to stay out of the public eye makes this appearance all the more significant. Unlike his twin brother Julian, who has pursued a career in acting, Aaron has maintained a low profile, without any publicly known social media accounts.
As the son of Robert De Niro and actress Toukie Smith, Aaron has a rich cultural heritage. His mother recognized for her role in the NBC sitcom "227," and his father, a celebrated Hollywood figure, have undoubtedly influenced his perspectives on art and self-expression. Aaron and his brother Julian were born through in vitro fertilization and delivered via surrogate, a testament to the diverse forms of modern family building.
Their parents, Robert De Niro and Toukie Smith, were in a relationship from 1988 until 1996. Though not frequently spotlighting his children, Robert De Niro has occasionally spoken about the unique challenges they face due to their mixed heritage and his high-profile career.
In discussing parenting, De Niro has reflected on the complexities his children navigate, emphasizing recognition and caution in an environment where racial dynamics and police interactions can impose additional burdens on young African Americans. He stresses the importance of self-awareness and self-defense in such interactions.
The veteran actor has offered guidance to his children about pursuing their passions. "For my kids, I tell them, 'If you want to be an actor or you want to do this or that, that’s fine as long as you’re happy. Just don’t sell yourself short. That’s the most I would say — push yourself a little more and reach for what you think it is you want to do. Don’t be afraid,'" De Niro advised.
He further emphasized the significance of carving one's path, especially in a family shadowed by fame. "It’s important for them to find their lane," said De Niro, advocating for personal authenticity over following in predetermined footsteps.
This ethos seems to resonate with Aaron, whose recent public outing might suggest a burgeoning interest in expressing his identity through fashion. While he has chosen a different track from his brother Julian, who followed more directly in their father's footsteps into acting and academia, Aaron's visual statement in New York City marks his own distinct space in the cultural landscape.
Julian, unlike Aaron, has embraced a role in the public eye. Making his major debut in 2016 with the film "In Dubious Battle," Julian later portrayed a young Barack Obama in the 2022 Showtime drama series "The First Lady." Besides his acting career, Julian has achieved academic recognition, having studied computer science and mathematics at New York University and contributed a significant publication in The Washington Post.
The different paths chosen by the De Niro twins highlight the diverse ways individuals navigate the influences of a prominent family background and find their forms of expression, whether through acting, academics, or, like Aaron, through a bold declaration of personal style.
Robert De Niro's commentary on the advice he gives about police conduct continues to echo in today’s climate of heightened awareness around racial injustices and police brutality. "That's scary. That has to change. Anybody who hurts another person for no reason other than self-defense or the defense of other people around shouldn't be doing that job," he concluded, voicing a strong stance against unwarranted violence.
