Online Reporter
Rihanna’s father Ronald Fenty has died at the age 70 bringing down the curtain on what was a complex and strained relationship between dad and daughter.
The strained relationship was brought into the spotlight in 2009 − four years after her debut single − when she revealed they hadn’t spoken in more than a year.
“I’ve been the one trying to reconcile with him forever,” she said during an appearance on Ryan Seacrest’s Kiis FM radio show.
“I haven’t heard from my father in over a year. I try though, I reached out to him. I did my part. Now it’s on him.”
At the time, she said they had a falling out after he ‘embarrassed’ her on her tour.
“He disrespected some people on the bus and I didn’t like that, so I kind of just let him go back home,” she said.
The pop star also said at the time that she was ‘upset’ that her dad had given interviews following her assault at the hands of then-boyfriend Chris Brown.
“He kind of did something that was really upsetting. He turned his back on me and went to the media,” she continued.
“He got paid to talk about stuff − all these little interviews he was doing after the whole situation in February.
“I hadn’t spoken to him and he was speaking as though we did. It was so disappointing to me.”
In 2019, she sued her father for using their last name for his company Fenty Entertainment.
In the suit, she accused him and his business partner of representing themselves as her agents.
She withdrew her lawsuit in 2021, and it’s believed that the two came to a settlement.
Ronald has battled addiction to crack cocaine in the past and has long been a heavy drinker.
Rihanna told Oprah that as a child she witnessed her father physically abuse her mother, once breaking her nose.
Then in 2008, Ronald was sent home from her North American tour following his drunken behaviour on her tour bus.
Ronald said Rihanna then froze him out for two years before they reconciled.
In 2013 the singer quietly put Ronald through a US$58,000 Malibu rehab programme to save him from jail after he was arrested during a visit to California.
But in 2014 Ronald was thrown out of her Diamond Ball after embarrassing his daughter by getting drunk and falling over on the red carpet.
He left California without seeing his daughter on that trip, although the two later reconciled once more.
And despite their subsequent legal problems, Rihanna even purchased a large house that he lived in.
Rihanna is one of three children Ronald shared with his ex-wife Monica Braithwaite, whom he divorced in 2002.
In addition to the Grammy winner, they also have sons Rajad and Rorrey.
Ronald also has three other children from previous relationships − Kandy, Samantha and Jamie.
TMZ published a photo of Rihanna’s brother Rajad Fenty arriving to Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre on Wednesday in a car.
His sister Rihanna is said to have been in the vehicle as well however she was not pictured.
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ronald praised Rihanna for providing him support after he contracted coronavirus.
“My daughter Robyn was checking in on me every day,” he told The Sun at his home in Barbados April 2020, referring to the pop star by her birth name.
Ronald said Rihanna did everything she could to help him from her home in the U.S.
“I thought I was going to die to be honest. I have to say, I love you so much, Robyn.
“She did so much for me. I appreciate everything she has done.”
The pop star even purchased a ventilator and sent it to Ronald in Barbados.
In 2022, Ronald told Page Six he was ‘ecstatic’ to learn Rihanna was expecting her first child with partner A$AP Rocky (the couple are now expecting baby number three).
“I’m so happy that I jumped for joy. I’m still so excited.
“Rihanna always said that she wanted children, she loves kids. She always takes care of her cousins’ kids…she’s going to be a good mom.”
The celebrity father, who spoke via phone from his home in Barbados, said he found Rocky to be ‘a very cool guy’ after the two got a chance to meet when his daughter brought the rapper home in December 2020.
“I like him,” he added, before revealing that he got the news of Rihanna’s pregnancy a day before she and Rocky (born Rakim Mayers) went public with her burgeoning tummy.
The Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, extended her condolences to the “We Found Love” singer and paid tribute to her father after his passing, citing his impact and role in Rihanna’s life.
“It is with deep sorrow that, on behalf of the Government and people of Barbados, I extend my sincere condolences to our beloved National Hero, The Right Excellent Robyn Rihanna Fenty, on the passing of her father, Ronald Fenty.
“Ronald Fenty was a son of Barbadian soil, whose life story reflected the resilience and spirit of our nation.
“While he may be known for playing a significant role in shaping the woman our National Hero Rihanna has become, the truth is that his journey here on earth has touched many more lives,” said Mottley. − Mailonline
Mathew Masinge