Rihanna is mourning the loss of her father, Ronald Fenty, who passed away at the age of 70 in Los Angeles following a brief illness. The news was first reported by Starcom Network in Barbados and later confirmed by sources close to the family.
While the exact cause of death has not been publicly disclosed, family members were reportedly present during his final moments.
Ronald Fenty’s death marks a deeply personal loss for the global superstar, who shared a complicated but ultimately reconciled relationship with her father. Though Rihanna has not issued a public statement, her younger brother Rajad Fenty was photographed arriving at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center this week, with reports confirming that Rihanna, who is currently expecting her second child with A$AP Rocky, was also at the hospital to be with her father.
Ronald and Rihanna’s relationship was often in the spotlight. He struggled with substance abuse for years and separated from Rihanna’s mother, Monica Braithwaite, in 2002—when Rihanna was just 14.
The split coincided with the early stages of Rihanna’s rise to international fame.
Despite their rocky history, the singer spoke candidly about the bond she maintained with her father. In a 2012 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Rihanna shared, “He taught me everything… as awful as he was to my mom, at times, it didn’t compare to how great he was as a father.”
In later years, the relationship hit another rough patch when Rihanna filed a lawsuit against him in 2019 for allegedly misusing her name and brand to promote his business, Fenty Entertainment. The suit was eventually dropped, and the two were believed to have reconciled once again.
In a 2023 interview, Ronald had expressed excitement about Rihanna’s growing family and called her an “overprotective mother,” praising her for the way she was raising her first child. His comments reflected a warmer phase in their father-daughter relationship.
Rihanna, known not only for her chart-topping hits but also her fiercely private approach to family life, has remained silent so far. Fans and celebrities alike have begun sharing condolences online, honoring the singer’s privacy while expressing their support.
As the world awaits Rihanna’s statement, the loss of Ronald Fenty adds a somber note to a year that has otherwise been marked by personal joy and professional milestones for the Grammy-winning artist.