Ronald Fenty, the father of internationally acclaimed singer Rihanna, has sadly passed away at the age of 70. Reports indicate that Fenty died on Saturday morning in Los Angeles. The news of his passing was first shared by Starcom Network News, a prominent local radio station in Barbados. Currently, the exact cause of death has not been disclosed, though it has been reported that he suffered from a “brief illness.”
In light of this tragic news, family members are reportedly gathering in California to honor Ronald Fenty's life. The Independent has reached out to representatives for Rihanna to obtain further comments regarding her father's death. The “Umbrella” singer, who recently announced her third pregnancy with partner A$AP Rocky, has not yet made a public statement regarding her father's passing.
Photos obtained by Page Six showed Rihanna's brother, Rajad Fenty, arriving at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Wednesday to visit their father. It is believed that Rihanna was also present during this difficult time, indicating the family's attempt to support one another amidst their grief.
Rihanna and her father had a complicated relationship, particularly following his divorce from her mother, Monica Braithwaite, and Ronald Fenty's struggles with alcohol. In a candid interview with Vogue in 2011, Rihanna described their relationship as “strange.” She expressed the difficulty of reconciling her childhood memories of him with his later actions, including selling information to the media after her assault by ex-boyfriend Chris Brown in 2009.
The complexities of their relationship were further highlighted when Rihanna filed a lawsuit against her father in 2019. She accused him of ignoring her requests not to conduct business on her behalf and attempting to trademark the Fenty name, despite her own company already claiming it. Although the lawsuit was eventually dropped, it underscored the tensions that existed between father and daughter.
Despite their differences, Ronald Fenty was known to celebrate his daughter's accomplishments. When Rihanna announced her pregnancy news in 2022, he was reportedly “ecstatic.” This demonstrates that beneath the challenges they faced, there was still a bond that connected them through moments of joy and pride.
The passing of Ronald Fenty marks a significant moment for Rihanna and her family, and as they come together to remember him, the complexities of their relationship serve as a reminder of the struggles and triumphs that define family dynamics.
