Remembering Ronald Fenty: Rihanna's Heartfelt Tribute to Her Father on the Anniversary of His Passing
Rihanna commemorates the first anniversary of her father, Ronald Fenty's, passing by sharing a heartfelt tribute on her Instagram Story. The singer and Fenty Beauty founder posted a throwback photo of herself with her late dad, expressing her gratitude for his presence as her guardian angel with a red heart and dove emoji. Ronald passed away at the age of 70 after a brief illness, and Rihanna has kept her grief mostly private, making this tribute a rare glimpse into how she continues to honor his memory.
The loss of Ronald occurred on May 30, 2025, with Rihanna reportedly by his side in Los Angeles during his final days. Despite the ups and downs in their relationship over the years, Rihanna and her father managed to reconcile after periods of estrangement. Their bond faced challenges, including public comments made by Ronald about Rihanna's assault in 2009 and a legal dispute in 2019 over the use of the Fenty name. However, the singer later spoke about coming to terms with her father's strengths and shortcomings, ultimately closing the gap between them.
Rihanna shared that her father taught her valuable lessons that continue to influence her parenting style with her sons, RZA and Riot. She emphasized the importance of raising adventurous and engaged children who are not overly reliant on screens, drawing inspiration from her father's love for the outdoors and fearless personality. Reflecting on what kind of grandfather Ronald would have been to her sons, Rihanna highlighted the positive impact he had on her life, despite the challenges they faced.
As Rihanna marks the one-year anniversary of her father's passing, her tribute serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring memories and lessons she holds dear from their mended relationship. "1 year of you being my guardian angel ❤️."