Who is Rihanna’s mom Monica Braithwaite? All about the parents as singer’s dad passes away

Rihanna is mourning the loss of her father, Ronald Fenty, who passed away on May 31, Saturday morning in Los Angeles. Rihanna and her mother, Monica Braithwaite, who previously worked as an accountant, had a difficult relationship with her father, although the pair had mended their bond in recent years.

According to Starcom Network, which was the first to report the news, Ronald Fenty was suffering from a "brief illness," although the specific details have not yet been released. Although it is not known if Rihanna was present at Cedar Sinai Medical Center, where Ronald Fenty was admitted, Fenty was surrounded by his other family members at the time of his passing, as reported by the outlet.

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More about Rihanna's parents, as her father passes away

Rihanna was born Robyn Rihanna Fenty to parents Monica Braithwaite and Ronald Fenty and grew up with her parents and siblings in Barbados. According to People Magazine, her parents separated when she was very young and later divorced in 2002. Rihanna's father had a history of drug-related problems, causing the breakdown of his marriage.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Rihanna recalled her memories from childhood, adding revealed how her parents' fights affected her. She said:

"It's not great memories. But it helped to build me and make me stronger. I wouldn’t cry. I wouldn’t get upset. It was just all in here."

She further added that, because of the intense situation in which she was brought up, she suffered from constant headaches. The "Umbrella" singer said:

"I had to go through a lot of CAT scans. They even thought it was a tumor, because it was that intense.”

Rihanna, in a 2020 interview with Vogue, where she was asked a series of questions by her boyfriend, A$AP Rocky, answered that her mother is her biggest beauty inspiration. She said:

"My entire concept of beauty came from her. I wanted to dress like her, I wanted to look like her, I wanted to do my hair like her, I wanted to do my makeup like her."

In a 2024 interview with Vogue, Rihanna, who at that time had been named as Dior's new brand ambassador, reminisced about the time her mother worked in a perfume shop and would bring home samples of Rihanna's favourite perfume, J'adore by Dior, for her and her siblings. She said:

"My mother worked in a perfume shop. She used to always bring home the testers when they were almost empty, so there was always a bottle in the house. I have always loved this perfume."

The Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, posted a tribute to Rihanna's father on her Instagram, writing:

"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."

She further added:

"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."

Rihanna has two younger brothers, with whom she shares a close bond. The pair, along with their parents, have attended many red carpet events with Rihanna. According to People Magazine, the Grammy-winning singer has three half-siblings from her father's previous relationships. According to the outlet, in a 2012 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Rihanna shared more about growing up with parents, particularly her father, Ronald Fenty.

"He has 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. And I had to come to terms with that, and I was able to close that gap with him.”

In 2018, Rihanna shared a picture with both of her parents, with the caption:

"Home"

According to Billboard, back in 2009, after she was assaulted by her then-boyfriend, Chris Brown, her father allegedly went to the press to talk about the matter without consulting her first, causing a brief estrangement between them. She said:

"That was the first time…..My dad went to the press and just told them a bunch of lies. Because he hadn’t talked to me after…that whole thing…. He never called to find out how I was doing, if I was alive, nothing. He just never called. He went straight to the press and got a check. And now he does it again.”

Later in 2024, according to People Magazine, Rihanna sued her father for allegedly using her name to run a talent hiring agency. Although later on, weeks before the trial, the Work singer dropped the suit. She had mended her relationship with her father, as she was allegedly seen visiting him at the hospital in the days before his passing, along with her brother, Rajad Fenty, according to TMZ.

According to People Magazine, Rihanna, who is expecting her third child with rapper A$AP Rocky, has not yet released an official statement in light of her father's passing.