Rihanna’s Father, Ronald Fenty, Dies at 70 After Brief Illness
Rihanna’s Father, Ronald Fenty, Passes Away at 70 After Brief Illness
Ronald Fenty, the father of global music icon Rihanna, has died at the age of 70, according to reports from Barbados’ Starcom Network News. He passed away early Saturday morning in Los Angeles following a brief illness. While the exact cause of death has not been officially disclosed, family members have reportedly gathered in California to honor his memory.
Photos captured by Page Six earlier this week showed Rihanna’s brother, Rajad Fenty, arriving at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Rihanna was believed to be with him, though not seen in the photos. The singer’s team has not yet issued a public statement, and Rihanna herself has remained silent on social media.
Rihanna's father Roland Fenty has passed away after battling an illness, @TMZ reports. He was 70 years old.
— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) May 31, 2025
RIP ????️ pic.twitter.com/vVnMP6UVv1
This heartbreaking news comes at a significant moment in Rihanna’s personal life, as she is currently expecting her third child with partner A$AP Rocky. The pop star debuted her baby bump at the 2025 Met Gala earlier this month, confirming her pregnancy to the world.
A Complicated Relationship with Her Father
Rihanna, born Robyn Rihanna Fenty, shared a deeply complex relationship with her father over the years. Their bond was often tested by Ronald’s struggles with addiction and his past behavior toward Rihanna’s mother, Monica Braithwaite, whom he divorced when Rihanna was just 14.
In a 2011 interview with Vogue, Rihanna described their relationship as “really strange,” citing difficult moments that left lasting emotional scars. However, by 2012, she shared with Oprah Winfrey that the two had reconciled. “He taught me everything,” Rihanna said in the emotional interview, adding that she had to learn how to separate Ronald’s role as a father from his flaws as a husband.
Ronald fenty the father of Rihanna has unfortunately passed away at the age of 70.
— LOVE (@LoveIsback24) May 31, 2025
Sending all love and prayers to Rihanna and her family right now ????????????️ pic.twitter.com/xRwXEAsqhk
Rihanna's father, Ronald Fenty, has passed away at the age of 70. He died in Los Angeles after battling a brief illness. ???? pic.twitter.com/vZlNbGjHA7
— No Jumper (@nojumper) May 31, 2025
Their relationship suffered another blow in 2019 when Rihanna sued Ronald for using her name without permission in his talent agency, Fenty Entertainment. The case was dismissed in 2021 before going to trial, and Ronald claimed at the time that they had mended fences once again.
Rihanna’s father, Ronald Fenty, has passed away at age 70. We’re sending so much love to Rihanna and her family ????????️ pic.twitter.com/XDGfGJjyA9
— MEFeater Magazine (@mefeater) May 31, 2025
Despite their ups and downs, Ronald expressed deep pride in Rihanna and joy in being a grandfather to her first son, RZA, born in May 2022. He shared in past interviews that Rihanna had brought the baby to Barbados, where the family bonded. “She’s loving it,” he said about her journey into motherhood. “She’s a very overprotective mother.
