Sad news for singer Rihanna. Her father, Ronald Fenty, has passed away at the age of 70.
According to Barbados media outlet Starcom Network, Ronald died in Los Angeles after a short illness. His exact cause of death has not yet been revealed.
Family members were reportedly with him in his final moments. Photos published by TMZ show Rihanna’s brother, Rajad Fenty, arriving at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on May 28. Rihanna was also believed to be there.
The singer has not released a statement yet.
Rihanna’s Family Life
Rihanna, born Robyn Rihanna Fenty, is currently pregnant with her third child with rapper A$AP Rocky. The couple already shares two sons, Rza and Riot.
She was born in February 1988 to Ronald Fenty and Monica Braithwaite in Bridgetown, Barbados. Rihanna lived there until she moved to the U.S. at 16 to chase her music dreams.
Her childhood home is on a street now known as Rihanna Drive.
Ronald and Monica also had two sons — Rajad and Rorrey. Ronald had three other children — Samantha, Kandy, and Jamie — from previous relationships.
Complicated Father-Daughter Relationship
Rihanna and her father had a rocky past. Their bond was tested in 2009 after Ronald spoke to the media about her assault by ex-boyfriend Chris Brown without her permission. Rihanna later said in an interview with Vogue that it felt like a betrayal.
She told Oprah in 2012 that they eventually tried to fix things. But in 2019, Rihanna sued her father, claiming he used her name without permission to run a business called Fenty Entertainment.
She said he pretended to be her manager to sign deals. However, the lawsuit was dropped in 2021 before going to trial.
Painful Goodbye
Ronald Fenty’s death comes at a time when Rihanna is preparing to welcome a new baby. It’s a bittersweet moment for the global superstar — one filled with both grief and new beginnings.
