Rihanna’s father, Ronald Fenty, has died at 70 after battling an illness.
Ronald Fenty, best known as the father of global superstar Rihanna, passed away, at the age of 70 in Los Angeles after a brief illness.
While the exact cause of his death has not been publicly confirmed, sources indicate that he was being treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center prior to his passing.
Photographs circulating on social media captured Rihanna’s brother, Rajad Fenty, arriving at the hospital on the day of Ronald’s death, and although Rihanna was reportedly in the vehicle with him, she was not visible in the images. Rihanna has not yet released an official statement regarding her father’s passing, and her representatives remain silent on the matter.
Throughout much of Rihanna’s life, her relationship with Ronald Fenty was tumultuous. Ronald and his ex-wife, Monica Braithwaite, divorced in 2002—just as Rihanna’s career was beginning to soar—leaving the siblings (Rihanna, Rajad, and Rorrey) to navigate a fractured family environment.
Over the years, Ronald struggled with substance abuse and faced legal battles that further strained his bond with his daughter. In 2019, Rihanna filed a federal lawsuit against Ronald, alleging that he had formed and operated an entertainment company called Fenty Entertainment without her consent, improperly leveraging her name and likeness to solicit money.
Although the case drew significant media attention, Rihanna and her father reached a private settlement, and she formally dropped the lawsuit in September 2021. Despite these disputes, there were signs of a thaw: Ronald publicly expressed his pride in Rihanna’s accomplishments, and she extended support when he faced health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reports suggest that Ronald and Rihanna reconciled around 2012, after years of limited contact. In February 2023, Ronald spoke to TMZ about his excitement over Rihanna and her partner, A$AP Rocky, expecting their second child together.
He indicated his eagerness to be involved in the new baby’s life and celebrated becoming a grandfather to his grandson, RZA, who was born in May 2022. Ronald’s role as grandfather seemed to mark a high point in their renewed relationship, and those close to the family believed he was looking forward to deepening his bond with Rihanna’s growing family.
Beyond Rihanna, Ronald is survived by two other children from his marriage to Monica Braithwaite: Rorrey and Rajad. Rajad, in particular, was seen alongside Rihanna at Cedars-Sinai shortly before Ronald’s passing, underscoring the closeness between the siblings even amid longstanding family challenges.
The Fenty family originally hails from Saint Michael, Barbados, where Ronald raised his children before relocating to the United States. Though his later years were complicated by health issues and public scrutiny, Ronald’s early years as a warehouse supervisor and his efforts to support his children laid the foundation for their successes.
His death comes at a significant moment for Rihanna, who is currently expecting her third child with A$AP Rocky; friends and fans alike are bracing for how this personal loss might affect her as she navigates both mourning and motherhood.
Ultimately, Ronald Fenty’s passing marks the end of a life defined by both personal struggles and a complex, high-profile family dynamic. While his later years were colored by legal disputes and public misunderstandings, reports indicate that he and Rihanna found common ground before his death, cherishing moments as father and daughter and as grandparent and grandchild.
At 70 years old, Ronald leaves behind a legacy intertwined with Rihanna’s meteoric rise, and his influence—both positive and contentious—will remain part of the wider narrative surrounding one of music’s biggest icons.
The Fenty family is now preparing to say goodbye and to carry forward his memory during this profound period of loss and reflection.
Source TMZ
