Rihanna’s father Ronald Fenty dies at 70 after brief illness

Rihanna’s father Ronald Fenty passed away at age 70 following a brief illness, with family gathering in Los Angeles.

Ronald Fenty, father of pop superstar Rihanna, has reportedly passed away at the age of 70. According to Starcom Network News, a Barbados-based radio station, Fenty died early Saturday morning in Los Angeles after a brief illness. An official cause of death has not yet been disclosed.

Family members have gathered in California to commemorate his life, with photos showing Rihanna’s brother, Rajad Fenty, visiting Ronald at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center earlier this week. Rihanna herself was believed to be with her brother but has not made any public statements regarding her father’s passing.

Ronald Fenty and Rihanna had a complicated relationship over the years. The singer publicly described their connection as “really strange” during a 2011 Vogue interview, reflecting on the emotional challenges they faced. He reportedly struggled with addiction, which contributed to tensions, and he divorced Rihanna’s mother when the singer was 14.

Despite these difficulties, Rihanna and Ronald reconciled for a time. In a 2012 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Rihanna spoke about separating her father’s roles as a parent and husband, acknowledging the positive impact he had on her life. However, the relationship appeared strained again by 2019 when Rihanna sued him over the use of her name in his talent development company. The lawsuit was later dismissed, with both reportedly making amends.

Ronald also expressed pride in his role as a grandfather to Rihanna’s son, RZA, who was born in May 2022. He shared how Rihanna had brought the child to her home island of Barbados twice and described her as a protective and loving mother.

As of now, Rihanna has not publicly addressed her father’s death.