Pop star Rihanna’s dad Ronald Fenty has died aged 70. The father of the global icon died early this morning in Los Angeles following a brief illness, according to reports.
Family members have reportedly gathered in California to pay their respects and honor Ronald’s memory. The heartbreaking news comes as Rihanna, real name Robyn Fenty, is currently expecting her third child with partner A $AP Rocky.
Ronald’s official cause of death has yet to be made public, as his death was announced by Starcom Network News, a prominent radio station based in Rihanna’s homeland of Barbados.
Photos have shown Rihanna’s brother, Rajad Fenty, arriving at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center earlier this week in an emotional moment for the family.
Ronald had divorced wife Monica Braithwaite, the chart-topping singer’s mum, amid a struggle with drink and drug issues when Rihanna was just a teenager.
He was even the subject of a lawsuit delivered by his daughter who accused him of misusing her name to benefit his own entertainment company – she later dropped it in 2021.
Rihanna previously paid for her father to attend a $58, 000 Malibu rehab following a difficult period in their relationship that saw her send him home from her tour due to his alcohol abuse.
Speaking after the birth of Rihanna’s first child, Ronald spoke fondly of being a granddad, admitting: “She’s loving it. She’s a very overprotective mother”.
“Everybody says]the baby] looks like me”, he told Page Six at the time. “But you know, babies change, faces change. He]resembles] a lot of Rihanna and Rocky together”.
He had previously noted ‘ not knowing ‘ if Rihanna and A $AP, birth name Rakim Mayers, would ever tie the knot, saying: “I don’t know about marriage, I really don’t know”.
Rihanna announced her third pregnancy earlier this month as she attended the 2025 Met Gala. She sparked rumours that another baby was on the way over recent weeks, thanks multiple baggy outfits concealing her stomach.
But in a video shared on social media, Rihanna seemingly used her fitted two-piece Miu Miu look to make a big announcement at the 2025 gala.
The Work hitmaker confirmed her second pregnancy in a similar low-key manner in 2023 when she revealed her growing bump during her Super Bowl performance. In the process, she became the first person to headline the halftime show while pregnant.
Her dad reportedly had “no idea” his daughter was expecting a second baby and is thought to have ‘ found out while watching the Super Bowl’.
While the world was finding out about Rihanna’s big news, Ronald was reportedly none the wiser, putting two and two together after seeing his daughter perform.
“Oh my God! My baby girl looks pregnant”, he recalled telling his partner while watching the show alongside his partner, reported TMZ at the time.
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Source: Mirror
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