The cause of death for Rihanna’s father, Ronald Fenty, has been revealed nearly a month after his passing on May 30, 2023, at the age of 70.
According to a death certificate obtained by TMZ, Fenty, the musician and father of the famous beauty mogul, died from cancer, pneumonia, and other serious illnesses after he was admitted to a Los Angeles hospital in late May.
The certificate lists acute respiratory failure, pancreatic cancer, and aspiration pneumonia (a bacterial lung infection) as the primary causes of his death. The document also mentions acute renal failure and acute tubular necrosis as contributing factors.
A Brief Illness and Family Support
Starcom Network reported that Fenty passed away following a brief illness in Los Angeles. Sources confirmed that Fenty’s family, including his children Rihanna and Rajad Fenty, were with him when he passed away. Rajad Fenty was seen arriving at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on May 28, just days before his father’s death.
Rihanna’s Family and Background
Rihanna, who is currently expecting her third baby with partner A$AP Rocky, was born to Ronald Fenty and Monica Braithwaite in February 1988. Rihanna’s parents separated when she was young and officially divorced in 2002, when Rihanna was 14.
Rihanna and her two brothers, Rajad and Rorrey, were raised in Bridgetown, Barbados, where Rihanna lived until she was 16 years old.
Rihanna also has three half-siblings from her father’s previous relationships: sisters Samantha and Kandy, and brother Jamie.
Rihanna’s Relationship with Her Father
Over the years, Rihanna has been open about her complicated relationship with her father. After the assault by her then-boyfriend Chris Brown in 2009, Rihanna expressed disappointment in her father when he spoke publicly about the incident without her consent.
She said, “You grow up with your father, you know him, you are a part of him, for goodness’ sakes! And then he does something so bizarre that I can’t begin to wrap my mind around it.”
However, during an Oprah Winfrey interview in 2010, Rihanna revealed that she had “repaired” her relationship with her father. “He taught me everything, and as awful as he was to my mom, at times, it didn’t compare to how great he was as a father,” Rihanna explained.
Legal Issues Between Rihanna and Her Father
In 2019, Rihanna sued her father for exploiting her name for financial gain. He started a talent development company called Fenty Entertainment in 2017 and posed as her manager to solicit new clients. The lawsuit was dismissed three weeks before trial in 2021, after Rihanna filed to dismiss the case.
Family Surrounding Ronald Fenty
It was reported that Rihanna was present when her father was taken to the hospital in late May. Rihanna’s family was by his side when he passed away, surrounded by love and support in his final days.
