Rihanna’s Father, Ronald Fenty, Passes Away at 70
Ronald Fenty, the father of international superstar Rihanna, has died at the age of 70 following a brief illness. According to Barbados-based Starcom Network, Ronald Fenty passed away in Los Angeles, although the specific date and cause of death have not yet been publicly disclosed.
Trigger Warning: This article discusses the death of a family member.
Sources revealed to People that Rihanna, whose birth name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, and her brother Rajad Fenty were present during their father’s final moments at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Photographs published by TMZ showed Rajad Fenty arriving at the Los Angeles hospital on May 28, accompanied by Rihanna, though neither Rihanna nor her representatives have issued a public statement regarding her father’s passing at this time.
Born in Barbados in 1954, Ronald Fenty worked as a warehouse supervisor and was the father of six children, including Rihanna. Over the years, Rihanna has openly shared details about her challenging childhood, including her father’s struggles with addiction and the domestic abuse suffered by her mother, Monica Braithwaite. In a candid 2009 interview on 20/20, Rihanna revealed that her parents’ marriage had been troubled and abusive, deeply impacting her upbringing.
Despite their difficult past, Rihanna and her father experienced periods of reconciliation and forgiveness. During a 2012 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the singer shared insights about repairing her relationship with her father, acknowledging the complexity of familial bonds. Rihanna explained to Oprah that while Ronald Fenty had been a flawed husband, he had nonetheless provided support to her as a father.
Their relationship further experienced turmoil in 2019, when Rihanna initiated a lawsuit against her father, alleging he had improperly used her name through a company named Fenty Entertainment. The suit stated that Ronald Fenty and his business partner had misrepresented themselves as Rihanna’s representatives to solicit deals. Ultimately, the lawsuit was dismissed in 2021, indicating a potential reconciliation or private resolution between the two parties.
Ronald Fenty’s passing represents a poignant moment in Rihanna’s personal life, underscored by the complex nature of their father-daughter relationship. While public details about his death remain limited, the history shared between Rihanna and her father continues to shape her narrative as a global artist, entrepreneur, and humanitarian.
No public memorial services or funeral arrangements have been announced by the Fenty family at this time. Fans worldwide have expressed condolences to Rihanna and her family amid this significant loss.
