Superstar Rihanna is grieving the loss of her father, Ronald Fenty, who has died at the age of 70. The news was first reported by Starcom Network, a media outlet based in Barbados, Rihanna’s home country. According to the report, Fenty passed away in Los Angeles following a short illness. The exact cause and date of his death have not been disclosed.
Family Present at the Time
Sources told Starcom that Fenty’s family was by his side during his final moments. TMZ published photos showing Rihanna’s younger brother, Rajad Fenty, arriving at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on May 28. Rihanna was reportedly also in the vehicle.
As of May 31, representatives for the Grammy-winning artist had not released a public statement.
Fans React with Support and Sympathy
News of Ronald Fenty’s passing sparked an outpouring of sympathy and heartfelt messages across social media.
On X, formerly Twitter, fans began sharing their condolences almost immediately after the news broke. Many users posted messages like “Sending love and prayers to Rihanna and her family” and “Please keep the Fenty family in your prayers.”
Rihanna’s father, Ronald Fenty, passed away 💔
Sending love and prayers to Rihanna and her family 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/zVIOgnOH8J
— Fenty Headlines (@FentyHeadlines) May 31, 2025
Ronald fenty the father of Rihanna has unfortunately passed away at the age of 70.
Sending all love and prayers to Rihanna and her family right now 🙏🏾🕊️ pic.twitter.com/xRwXEAsqhk
— LOVE (@LoveIsback24) May 31, 2025
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Ronald Fenty, the father of Robyn Rihanna Fenty, has died.
It is understood that he passed away in Los Angeles following a brief illness.Please keep the Fenty family in your prayers. pic.twitter.com/poBNB8gaDb
— ☞ (@phuckerih) May 31, 2025
One user wrote, “Losing a parent is never easy, no matter your relationship. Thinking of Rihanna and her loved ones during this tough time.”
Rihanna’s Childhood and Family Background
Born Robyn Rihanna Fenty in February 1988, the singer grew up in Bridgetown, Barbados, where she lived with her parents Ronald Fenty and Monica Braithwaite. The couple shared three children: Rihanna, Rorrey, and Rajad. Ronald Fenty also had three children—Samantha, Kandy, and Jamie—from previous relationships.
Rihanna’s childhood home was located on a street that now bears her name: Rihanna Drive. She lived there until age 16, when she moved to the United States to pursue her music career.
Fenty and Braithwaite separated during Rihanna’s early years and formally divorced in 2002 when she was 14. Despite their split, both parents played roles in raising Rihanna and her siblings.
A Complicated Father-Daughter Relationship
Over the years, Rihanna has spoken publicly about her complicated relationship with her father. One of the most notable rifts occurred in 2009, following her highly publicized assault by then-boyfriend Chris Brown. Fenty reportedly spoke to the press about the incident without Rihanna’s consent.
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By 2012, Rihanna revealed during an interview with Oprah Winfrey that she had begun mending her relationship with her dad. Still, tensions persisted. In 2019, Rihanna filed a lawsuit against Fenty, accusing him of misusing her name for personal business ventures.
The lawsuit alleged that Fenty started a talent development company, Fenty Entertainment, and posed as her manager to solicit clients and make deals without her knowledge. Just three weeks before the case was set to go to trial in 2021, Rihanna voluntarily dismissed the suit.
Rihanna’s Growing Family
Rihanna, now 37, is expecting her third child with rapper A$AP Rocky. The couple already shares two sons: Rza, 2, and Riot, who turned 1 earlier this year.
Despite the complexities in their relationship, Rihanna maintained a connection with her father in recent years. His passing comes at a time of major personal milestones for the singer as she prepares to welcome another child.
