Ronald Fenty, the father of global superstar Rihanna, has died at the age of 70 after a brief illness in Los Angeles.
He passed away surrounded by loved ones, including Rihanna and her younger brother Rajad, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Born on August 16, 1954, in Barbados, Fenty lived a life that was as layered as it was public. From warehouse supervisor to street vendor, he wore many hats before finding himself in the glare of fame through his daughter’s meteoric rise. A father of six, he shared three children—Robyn (Rihanna), Rorrey, and Rajad—with his ex-wife, Monica Braithwaite.
Ronald’s journey wasn’t without turbulence. His battles with addiction and the breakdown of his marriage left a lasting imprint on Rihanna’s early years. Their relationship was notably strained—culminating in a 2019 lawsuit filed by the singer against her father for allegedly using her name to promote his business, Fenty Entertainment. The case was later dropped, and the two reconciled.
Despite the scars of the past, Rihanna extended compassion during his health scares. In 2020, she sent him a ventilator and helped him recover from COVID-19, a gesture that signaled forgiveness and deep familial loyalty.
Fenty’s passing comes at a pivotal moment in Rihanna’s life. The music and fashion mogul is currently expecting her third child with longtime partner A$AP Rocky. The couple, who already share sons RZA and Riot, recently made headlines with their pregnancy reveal at the 2025 Met Gala.
As of now, Rihanna has not publicly commented on her father’s death—but those close to her say she is quietly grieving the loss of a man who, for all his flaws, remained a formative presence in her life.
