Rihanna’s father Ronald Fenty dies aged 70
The cause of death is not yet known.
Ronald Fenty, the father of global music icon Rihanna, has passed away at the age of 70, according to a recent report.
The patriarch died early Saturday morning in Los Angeles, as confirmed by Starcom Network News, a prominent radio station based in Rihanna’s homeland of Barbados.
While the official cause of death has not yet been publicly disclosed, sources close to the family indicated that Ronald Fenty succumbed after a brief illness.
Following the news, family members reportedly gathered in California to pay their respects and honor his memory.
Photos obtained by Page Six show Rihanna’s brother, Rajad Fenty, arriving at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Wednesday to visit their father in what appeared to be an emotional moment for the family.
This news comes at a poignant time for Rihanna, who is currently expecting her third child with longtime partner A$AP Rocky.
Rihanna and her father had a historically troubled relationship (Picture: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage) The singer previously characterised her relationship with her father as ‘strange’ (Picture: Twitter) Ronald reportedly succumbed to an illness though official cause of death remains unknown (Picture: © Rihanna / Instagram)The superstar revealed her pregnancy earlier this year, capturing worldwide attention when she proudly showcased her baby bump at the Met Gala.
Rihanna, born Robyn Rihanna Fenty, has had a complicated relationship with her father over the years.
Reports have detailed past struggles Ronald faced with alcohol and drug addiction, challenges that contributed to his divorce from Monica Braithwaite, Rihanna’s mother, when the singer was just 14 years old.
Rihanna discussed her relationship to her father in a 2011 interview with Vogue, per Billboard.
‘It’s really strange. That’s the only word I can think of to describe it, because you grow up with your father, you know him, you are a part of him, for goodness’ sakes!’
She continued: ‘And then he does something so bizarre that I can’t begin to wrap my mind around it. You hear the horror stories about people going behind people’s backs and doing strange things, but you always think, Not my family. My father would never do that to me.’
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky are expecting their third child (Picture: Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)In 20/20 interview with Diane Sawyer in 2009, Rihanna remembered her parent’s marriage as ‘abusive.’
The domestic violence was so affecting to a young Rihanna, that she begant to have severe headaches at the age of 8, which eventually resolved after their divorce.
She told Entertainment Weekly in 2007 of her childhood: ‘It’s not great memories. But it helped to build me and make me stronger.’
In 2019, Rihanna sued her father for allegedly exploiting her name for financial gain. Three weeks before the case went to trial in 2021, Rihanna dropped the suit, according to BBC.
Rihanna’s mother Monica and Ronald have three children together: Rihannaand her two younger brothers, Rorrey and Rajad.
Rihanna also has three half-siblings from her father’s previous relationships: sisters Samantha and Kandy and brother Jamie.
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