Rihanna’s Father, Ronald Fenty, Dies at 70: Report
He passed away following a brief illness, according to reports.
Rihanna is grieving the loss of her father, Ronald Fenty, who has reportedly passed away at the age of 70 following a brief illness. The news was first reported by Starcom Network News, a Barbados-based radio station, which noted that Fenty died surrounded by family members. While the official cause of death and specific date have not yet been publicly disclosed, the loss marks a personal tragedy for the global superstar, who has had a long and complex history with her father.
A Quiet Goodbye
According to local sources, Ronald Fenty passed away in recent days in Barbados, Rihanna’s birthplace and the place she and her family still hold close ties to. The news of his passing came quietly but quickly made international headlines, given Rihanna’s fame and her father’s occasional presence in the public eye.
Billboard has confirmed they’ve reached out to Rihanna’s representatives for an official statement, though the singer has not commented publicly as of yet. However, media outlets including TMZ reported that Rihanna was recently seen arriving at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, suggesting she may have been present during her father’s final moments or involved in his care.
On Wednesday, May 28, Rihanna’s younger brother Rajad Fenty was also photographed at the hospital. Though the singer wasn’t visible in the pictures, sources say she was in the vehicle, keeping a low profile during this difficult time.
A Complicated Relationship
Rihanna — born Robyn Rihanna Fenty — has had a deeply layered relationship with her father, marked by both affection and tension. Ronald Fenty was a formative figure in her early life, helping to raise her in Bridgetown, Barbados, alongside her mother, Monica Braithwaite, and her two brothers, Rajad and Rorrey. But as Rihanna has shared in past interviews, her upbringing was not without hardship, particularly due to her father’s alleged struggles with substance abuse and violence.
In a 2012 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Rihanna opened up about the complicated nature of their father-daughter bond. She revealed that her father had been physically abusive toward her mother during her childhood, a reality that left a lasting impact. Yet, she also expressed her decision to forgive him and work toward rebuilding their relationship as adults.
“I repaired my relationship with my dad,” Rihanna told Oprah at the time. “I was so angry at him. I was just angry about a lot of things in my childhood and growing up and things that I had seen. I felt like I had to be the strong one. I had to keep this facade and keep him and his secrets. And I think it was my way of being protective.”
Public Disputes
Despite their reconciliation, the father-daughter relationship hit another low point in the years that followed. In 2019, Rihanna filed a lawsuit against her father and his business partner, Moses Perkins, accusing them of exploiting her name for financial gain. The suit alleged that Ronald Fenty and Perkins launched a company called Fenty Entertainment and falsely implied Rihanna was involved, misleading investors and creating business deals without her knowledge or approval.
At the time, Rihanna’s legal team emphasized that she had nothing to do with the venture and had not authorized her father to act on her behalf in any business capacity. The legal battle persisted for two years before Rihanna eventually dropped the lawsuit in 2021, just weeks before it was scheduled to go to trial.
This incident highlighted the difficulties that often arise when family and fame collide. For Rihanna, whose name and brand carry significant global weight, the situation was both a professional concern and a personal disappointment.
Past Betrayals
Tensions between Rihanna and her father also became public shortly after her 2009 assault by then-boyfriend Chris Brown. Ronald Fenty spoke to the press about the incident without his daughter’s consent, something Rihanna later admitted left her stunned and hurt.
“You grow up with your father, you know him, you are a part of him, for goodness’ sakes,” Rihanna said in a 2011 interview with Vogue. “And then he does something so bizarre that I can’t begin to wrap my mind around it.”
Still, over the years, Rihanna continued to maintain a level of connection with her father, even during times of strain. In more recent years, it appeared they had found a way to coexist, though they were not often publicly seen together.
Family and Legacy
Ronald Fenty leaves behind a blended family. He shared three children — Rihanna, Rajad, and Rorrey — with his ex-wife Monica Braithwaite, from whom he divorced in 2002. In addition to his children with Monica, he had three other children from previous relationships: daughters Samantha and Kandy, and a son named Jamie.
The family was raised in Barbados, where Rihanna lived until she was discovered at age 16 and moved to the United States to pursue her music career. Despite the ups and downs of her relationship with her father, Rihanna has always maintained pride in her Caribbean roots and frequently visits her home island.
Ronald Fenty’s passing now adds another layer to Rihanna’s journey. Currently expecting her third child with partner A$AP Rocky, she is preparing for new life while simultaneously mourning the end of another. This moment undoubtedly marks a profound turning point for the artist, who has long balanced fame, family, and personal growth under the watchful eye of the public.
A Private Time for a Public Star
As fans and media outlets await an official statement, it’s clear that this is a deeply personal loss for Rihanna. Though her relationship with her father was complicated, it was also filled with attempts at reconciliation, healing, and understanding — a reminder that even global icons must navigate the messiness of family dynamics.
While the world mourns with her, Rihanna now faces the challenge of processing grief in a very public spotlight. As someone who has continually shown strength and resilience throughout her career, there’s little doubt she’ll move through this moment with grace — but for now, she’s just a daughter mourning her father.