Rihanna’s personal tragedy explained.
TMZ confirmed late Monday that Ronald Fenty, father of global superstar Rihanna, has passed away at age 70.
Ronald Fenty’s life explained.
Raised in Bridgetown, Ronald later married Monica Braithwaite, a retired accountant, and started a family.
Ronald and Monica had three children together — Rihanna, Rajad, and Rorrey — before splitting in 2002.
The couple divorced just as Rihanna’s career exploded, with her 2005 breakout single “Pon de Replay.”
Rihanna and Ronald’s complicated relationship highlighed.
Rihanna’s relationship with her dad has long been labeled “complicated,” and for good reason.
In 2019, Rihanna filed a lawsuit against Ronald, claiming he exploited her name and booked fake business deals.
The two were reportedly estranged for years, with trust issues tearing at what little connection they had.
The singer revealed in interviews that her childhood was marred by abuse and her father’s past addictions.
In a 2009 interview, Rihanna didn’t shy away from discussing the violence she witnessed at home.
His history of substance abuse created years of tension between him and Rihanna.
Despite the rocky history, Rihanna and her father found some peace in recent years, especially during the pandemic.
Despite everything, Rihanna flew Ronald to the U.S. for medical treatment in 2020 when he caught COVID.
“She was always there for me, even when I didn’t deserve it,” he told The Sun.
Though things were strained, Rihanna never fully cut him off — a telling sign of a daughter torn.
In recent years, she kept mentions of her father to a minimum, focusing instead on her children and career.
Ronald expressed joy over Rihanna’s motherhood, telling TMZ in 2023 that he was thrilled about her second pregnancy.
“I couldn’t be more proud,” Ronald said at the time, clearly hoping to be part of his grandchildren’s lives.
He was “so ready to be a grandpa again” and couldn’t wait to meet her new baby.
Ronald Fenty’s death profiled.
Sources told TMZ Ronald died in Los Angeles following an undisclosed illness he’d been privately battling.
Rihanna’s younger brother, Rajad Fenty, was seen arriving at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Wednesday.
Insiders claim Rihanna was also in the vehicle but remained out of sight, keeping a low profile during the emergency.
As of now, the family has stayed silent publicly, with no official comment from Rihanna or her reps.
He was last seen publicly at a family gathering in Barbados, looking frail but happy.
The specific illness that led to Ronald’s death hasn’t been disclosed, but sources say it was a long battle.
Rihanna’s siblings are reportedly rallying around her as the family processes the loss.
Fans are anxiously watching her social media for a statement, but so far — silence.
Known for her privacy, Rihanna has remained out of the public eye since her father’s passing.
Insiders say the family is expected to fly Ronald’s body back home for a private burial.
Rest in peace Ronald.
Rihanna’s fans — the Rihanna Navy — have taken over her comment sections with messages of love and sympathy.
He was a flawed man, a proud father, and, in the end, someone Rihanna never stopped caring about.
Even through lawsuits and fights, she never stopped acknowledging their bond — complicated as it was.
The death of Ronald Fenty marks the end of a tangled, emotional chapter in Rihanna’s life — and possibly, a new beginning.