Ronald Fenty, the father of pop sensation Rihanna Fenty, passed away this week after a short illness, as reported by a radio station from his homeland of Barbados.
Fenty breathed his last at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. The exact date of his passing remains undisclosed.
On Wednesday, May 28, Rihanna and her younger sibling, Rajad Fenty, were spotted arriving at Cedars-Sinai.
Fans of Rihanna took to social media on Saturday to share their sympathies and support for the musical star.
One X user commented: “Ronald Fenty, Rihanna’s father, has died. Sending love and thoughts to Rihanna and her family.”
Rihanna, who is anticipating her third child with rapper A$AP Rocky, had a tumultuous relationship with her father over the years. Fenty had been unfaithful to Rihanna’s mother, Monica Braithwaite, and was also characterized as “violent” towards family members.
In 2009, following the assault by singer Chris Brown on Rihanna, her father publicly addressed the matter without consulting her beforehand.
However, father and daughter managed to put their past grievances aside and grew closer over time. In a 2012 interview with Oprah, Rihanna expressed that she had mended her relationship with her father.
Fenty had three children – Rihanna, Rajad, and Rorrey – with his former spouse, Monica Braithwaite. The couple separated in 2002. Additionally, he had three other children, Samantha, Kandy, and Jamie, from previous relationships.