Ronald Fenty, the father of global superstar Rihanna, has passed away at the age of 70. His death occurred in Los Angeles after a short illness, as first reported by Barbados-based outlet Starcom Network. The cause and date of his passing have not yet been officially confirmed.
Rihanna and Her Family Were by Ronald Fenty’s Side in His Final Days
Sources close to the family revealed that Ronald Fenty was surrounded by loved ones at the time of his passing. On May 28, Rihanna’s younger brother, Rajad Fenty, was photographed arriving at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Rihanna herself was reportedly in the vehicle, supporting her family in a deeply personal moment.
As of May 31, no official comment has been issued by Rihanna or her representatives.
Rihanna’s Childhood and Family Life with Ronald Fenty in Barbados
Ronald Fenty and Monica Braithwaite raised Rihanna and her brothers, Rorrey and Rajad, in Bridgetown, Barbados. Rihanna, born Robyn Rihanna Fenty in 1988, spent her early years in a modest home that now stands on Rihanna Drive, a street renamed in her honor.
In addition to his children with Braithwaite, Ronald was also the father of three other children—Samantha, Kandy, and Jamie—from previous relationships.
The couple separated during Rihanna’s childhood and officially divorced in 2002. Despite their separation, both parents remained central to her upbringing.
Rihanna’s Complicated Relationship with Her Father
Over the years, Rihanna’s relationship with her father was often strained and marked by public controversies. After the 2009 incident involving Chris Brown, Ronald Fenty spoke to the press without her consent. Rihanna later addressed the betrayal in a candid interview with Vogue, calling the situation “really strange.”
- “You grow up with your father, you know him, you are a part of him, for goodness’ sakes! And then he does something so bizarre that I can’t begin to wrap my mind around it.”
— As quoted by Billboard
In 2012, Rihanna told Oprah that she had taken steps to repair their relationship. However, new tensions emerged in 2019 when she filed a lawsuit against her father, alleging that he used her brand name without permission.
Ronald Fenty had launched a company called Fenty Entertainment in 2017 and was accused of falsely posing as Rihanna’s representative to negotiate business deals. The case was dropped in 2021 shortly before it was scheduled for trial, according to BBC News.
Rihanna’s Expanding Family and Her Father’s Lasting Legacy
Rihanna is currently pregnant with her third child with rapper A$AP Rocky. The couple are already parents to two sons — RZA, born in 2022, and Riot, born in 2023.
While her relationship with her father was at times difficult, Ronald Fenty remained an important part of her personal story. His passing comes at a poignant time as Rihanna embraces a growing family of her own.
To learn more about Barbados government resources and official records, visit the Government of Barbados.
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