Love & Hip-Hop Atlanta star announces he's detransitioning after 12 years living as a woman

Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta star D. Smith has announced he's detransitioning after 12 years living as a woman.

The Grammy-nominated producer, 51, announced the news in an Instagram post Thursday, insisting that he has no regrets.

'For most of my life, I've followed my heart, even when the path wasn't easy to understand,' Smith began. 'Over the last twelve years, I lived my life publicly as a transgender woman. Those years weren't a mistake. They were real.

'They introduced me to extraordinary people, profound experiences, and lessons that I will always carry with me forever.'

Accompanying the post, Smith shared a new photo of himself wearing shorts, a loose tank and a durag.

The multi-platinum producer explained how recently his new life presenting as a man began.

'Over the past several months, I've begun a new chapter in my life. Going forward, I'll be living and presenting as a man and using he/him pronouns,' Smith shared.

'This isn't about erasing my past. Living my life as a woman for 12 years showed me the man that I wanted to become.

'My respect and love for the transgender community remain unchanged, and I continue to believe that every person deserves to live with dignity, safety, and compassion and have the freedom to become themselves.'

The reality star gave fans a glimpse into his new outlook and thanked his support network for sticking with him along the way.

Smith hinted that more information is to come.

'Life is constantly pushing me to grow. Even when I feel tired, discouraged, or alone, life has given me strength because I chose purpose over fear,' he added. ' I'm deeply grateful to everyone who supported me throughout every season of my life.

'There is much more to this journey [that] can't fit into this statement. When the time is right, I'll share that story in full. Until then, thank you for allowing me space to continue growing.'

The two-time Grammy-nominated writer, singer and producer has worked with the likes of Katy Perry, Lil Wayne and CeeLo Green.

After coming out as trans in 2014, Smith faced backlash in the industry and told the Guardian in 2023 that records that were about to be released were pulled and friends stopped returning calls.

'I absolutely felt betrayal, but I was in denial for two years. I'd always done everything by the book, I'd made a lot of money for labels, so I thought there was no reason for people to separate themselves from me,' Smith said.

'It took me years to think about the fact that people around me loved D. Smith the guy, they trusted that person – literally one day I was wearing jeans and Timberlands and a trucker hat, and the next day I was wearing blue eyeshadow and heels.

'I didn't give people a heads up, and you don't owe anybody an explanation of who you are, but at the same time, how do you realistically expect people to completely accept you [straight away]? That's actually not fair.'

Smith went on to be a supporting cast member on VH1's Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta season 5 in 2016 while Joseline Hernandez and K. Michelle were among the main cast.

Presenting as a woman, Smith was the first openly transgender cast member of an unscripted series.

In 2023, Smith's film Kokomo City won the NEXT Innovator and Audience Award at Sundance Film Festival.

The documentary is 'a raw depiction of the lives of four black trans sex workers as they confront the dichotomy between the black community and themselves,' according to IMDb.